Manx Telecom staff donated ?3,000 to Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation in tribute to a former colleague who died suddenly in June 2010. Eymard Dimayuga, 42, spent four years working in the company’s Mobile Networks team and had become a popular member of staff. As a tribute, colleagues decided to raise money for a charity nominated by Eymard’s wife Myette. A memorial to Eymard will also be created at the Community Woodland project at Conrhenny Plantation. Three members of the Mobile Networks team - Graham Greenwood, Nigel Owen and Martyn Quayle, plus Tony Dugdale of the Corporate Service delivery team - took part in the Parish Walk and raised ?1,500. Staff organising cake stalls and a dressdown day, among many other events, helped to reach the ?3,000 total. Roy Maddrell, Manx Telecom Mobile Network Manager, said: “Eymard was a well liked and respected member of our team and is sadly missed by his colleagues. He was part of a very close-knit team working behind the scenes to ensure adequate network coverage for big events such as the TT, Parish Walk, and Manx Telecom Bay Festival. So it was fitting that his colleagues should raise money in his honour by taking part in the Parish Walk. Eymard will also be remembered in a memorial at Conrhenny Plantation which many Manx Telecom staff have volunteered to work on in the past year.” Manx Telecom is working with the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture (DEFA) to create a community woodland for the Island which will have walking and biking trails and a picnic area with wheelchair access. The plan is to have a permanent plaque in memory of Eymard placed at the site once work is completed. Much of the project has already been done with work beginning again in the spring when Manx Telecom volunteers will be recruited to complete the picnic area and put the finishing touches to paths and borders. The final phase will be erecting signs explaining the development of the project and putting in place the plaque for Eymard. Eymard and Myette, who are from the Philippines, lived in Onchan with their young sons, Mark and David. Myette, her sister and mother, visited the Island from the Philippines in September 2010 to see the woodland project. Roy Maddrell added: “While some of Eymard’s family may not be able to come to the Isle of Man in the years ahead, they are all comforted to know that his memory will be linked to such a peaceful and beautiful place and have asked to be updated as things progress to completion.” Eymard’s friends and colleagues at Manx Telecom will make sure his family are kept informed about developments at the woodland project. - ENDS -