Events
Northern Ireland All Party Parliamentary Group at Stormont
Gerry & Geraldine as members of the Northern Ireland Muscle Group were at Stormont on 27th Sept 2011 for the launch of the first ever All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy. The All Party Group has launched an inquiry into all aspects of care and support for people with neuromuscular conditions. Having campaigned for 20 years we know this is a major step forward. For further information visit Muscular Dystrophy campaign news and Campaign MD inquiry launch.
Mike Abseils Europa Hotel
Above: Gerry, Mike & Victoria
Our thanks to Mike McGibney who abseiled down the Europa Hotel on 25th September 2011 raising a tremendous £130. Our thanks to Mike for this support. It was great to see our charity as part of an event which supports many other charities. Thanks again Mike and also Christopher's cousin Victoria Palmer for their support.
Bangor Street Collection
Above: Geraldine, Gerry, Helen and Maureen
Above: Willie, Jenny and Christopher.
The charity held its first ever street collection in Bangor on 23rd July. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the Bangor public in helping to raise £499.57. It was very special to see CHRIS lapel stickers being worn by people around Bangor. We would like to thank Willie & Maureen Kenny, Jenny McQuitty, Christopher Hardy and Helen Thompson for giving up their time to support us that day.
Spirit of Chris in Peru
Christopher's cousin Louise Browne and her friend Sarah McAvoy recently went to Peru and more so to trek to Machu Picchu the ancient city. They raised a tremendous £216.92 and we would like to thank them for this donation. A lot of charities now visit Machu Picchu and it is great to see The Christopher McCollum Fund part of that. Thanks Louise and Sarah.
Politicians Pledge Support In Fight Against Muscle Disease
Along with other families the charity wrote to local Assembly candidates prior to the recent election asking them to sign up to the Muscular Dystrophy "Manifesto for Muscle in Northern Ireland". A number of candidates did so and to see the list of those then elected visit Northern Ireland Assembly candidates supporting Manifesto for Muscle and Politicians pledge support in fight against muscle disease
Belfast Marathon Walkers
Susan Murphy and Pamela Lemon completed The Nine Mile Walk on the 2nd May 2011 supporting The Christopher McCollum Fund. They raised a tremendous sum of £252.00.
We also would like to thank Angela Rogan who actually completed The 26.2 Mile Walk and included The Christopher McCollum Fund as one of her charities raising a tremendous £155.00.
Sincere thanks to Susan, Pamela and Angela for their support.
Northern Ireland Muscle Group launched
Gerry and Geraldine along with other families and clinicians in conjunction with The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign launched the Northern Ireland Muscle Group on the 1st April 2011 at the Europa Hotel. The group will campaign to improve care and support for families with neuromuscular conditions and hope to meet with MLAs in the near future. For further information visit Northern Ireland families fight for care and Northern Ireland families to fight for muscle-wasting disease care
Northern Ireland Muscular Dystrophy Care Advisor post saved
The charity, along with other families, campaigned to have the Care Advisor Post retained by writing to local MLAs. The campaign was successful and the post has been maintained for the foreseeable future. We would like to thank in particular Alex Easton MLA and our MP for North Down Lady Sylvia Hermon for the time they took to write to the Health Trust and also the then Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. For further information visit Northern Ireland's Care Advisor post saved
IS Division donation
IS Division which is based in the Stormont Estate organised events at Christmas and raised a tremendous sum of £540.77. Our sincere thanks to everyone who supported The Christopher McCollum Fund.
Gareth Heron presents Gerry with the donation. Also in the picture are Peter Reading, Lynne McQuitty and Pat Bennett.
Perennials Rugby Football Charity Day
Perennials Rugby Football Club held their annual charity day on the 27th August 2010 at Down Royal Racecourse. The Christopher McCollum Fund was one of three charities they chose to support this year. The Perennials was formed in 1989, when a group of rugby players, mostly over 40, formed a team to play against a team from Canada. Gerry & Geraldine were guests on the day and wish to thank Geoff Goldsborough and his committee for their hospitality and putting on such a tremendous event. The special highlight was when Dr Jack Kyle, possibly the greatest Irish rugby player of all time and Patron of the Perennials, presented Gerry with a cheque for £1,500. We would like to thank the Perennials for this tremendous donation and special thanks also to John Carleton for nominating our charity this year. For further information please visit www.perennialsrugby.com.
Jamie’s Joy - June 2010
The charity recently presented six year old Jamie Rogan with a new lightweight wheelchair. Jamie who lives in Bangor and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy had been using a buggy for the past two years. Despite being measured and choosing a wheelchair the NHS were unable to give any indication when this could be provided. Jamie's mum Angela contacted us to see if we could help. The charity were able to purchase the wheelchair from Bridge Medical Services in Bangor, and within three weeks Jamie received his wheelchair. Jamie's mum Angela says "We are so grateful to the charity for helping to improve Jamie's quality of life at a time when he really needed it."
Read more on this story at The County Down Spectator
Our Latest Campaign – 16 March 2010
If you have recently visited the Bloomfield Shopping Centre in Bangor you may have noticed an eye-catching billboard advertising our charity.
Definite Vision Ltd, our website designer, have given us this opportunity to promote the charity name. They have very kindly sponsored the cost of the advertising space and also designed the artwork for the billboard. As well as this support Definite Vision Ltd have, from the outset, played a major part in helping us develop the identity of our charity. Their knowledge and expertise has been crucial and their belief in the charity has been a great encouragement to us.
Thanks Chris, Damien, Andy and Colin for your help and continued support. For more information please visit www.definitevision.com
Gerry McCollum (Spirit of Chris) meeting Chris Campbell (Definite Vision) at the launch of our latest billboard campaign at Bloomfield Retail Park
Come Dine With Me at Royal Day-Care Nursery
A Come Dine With Me evening was held on 11th December 2009 at Royal Day-Care Nursery. A tremendous sum of £640 was raised on what was a fantastic fun event. Sincere thanks go to Barbara McNeill and staff and also Barbara and her sister Maureen Kenny who prepared a fabulous meal for everyone.
We would again like to thank Barbara and everyone at Royal Day-Care Nursery for their support.
Lobby at Stormont – 10 February 2009
Gerry and Geraldine were invited by The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to a Lobby at Stormont. A report Building on the Foundations in Northern Ireland was presented on the
10 February 2009 to the members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is calling on the Northern Ireland Government and Health Boards to carry out an urgent review of health and social care services for people, not only with Muscular Dystrophy, but all other rare muscle conditions in Northern Ireland. Similar reports have been carried out in the rest of the UK.
For further details visit: musculardystrophy.org also under Campaign News you will see a report dated 4 March 2009 “Disabled Children Across the UK let down by the NHS”. This highlights delays in wheelchairs and equipment.
Lobby at Stormont with Margaret Ritchie, Social Development Minister, Muscular Dystrophy and CHRIS
The Walton Report
Following similar Lobbies throughout the UK The Walton report was issued on 24 August 2009. This highlights the concern in general care of those with neuromuscular conditions and also delays in wheelchair and equipment provision. To view this report visit: The Walton report.
Tesco
Tesco have chosen Muscular Dystrophy as their Charity of the Year 2009 to raise funds for wheelchairs and equipment. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign held collection days on Friday, 25 September and Saturday, 26 September 2009 at all Tesco stores throughout the UK. Gerry and Geraldine McCollum along with Pat Grindle donated 2 hours of their time each day at Tesco in Bloomfield Shopping Centre, Bangor, collecting £437. The Christopher McCollum Fund is happy to support The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and wishes to thank everyone who gave a donation.
A total of £80,000 was raised across the UK. For more information visit: tesco.muscular-dystrophy.org.
Family Fun Day – The Royal Day-Care Nursery
A fundraising day took place on 9 May 2009 at The Royal Day-Care Nursery at Broadway, Belfast. A total of £550 was raised along with additional donations of £110. Sincere thanks to Barbara McNeill, her staff, family and friends who helped contribute towards a very successful event.
