Category: featured-4

Bangor RNLI was delighted to receive two donations totalling £400 following fundraising drives to celebrate the charity’s 200^th anniversary this year.

Young Henry Scott, presented RNLI volunteer John Montgomery with a cheque for £200 which were the proceeds of a collection by Campbell College Kindergarten.

The funds were raised and donated in memory of Henry’s late grandfather, Johnny Mullen. Johnny was a past crew member of Bangor RNLI and was a very popular and distinguished sailor, both internationally and on the water of Belfast Lough.

On the same day, Peter Bullock also presented a cheque donation for £200 to our volunteers John Montgomery, John Magowan and Chris Beale on behalf of the Rotary Club of North Down.

Peter Bullock said: “We take great pleasure in presenting Bangor RNLI this modest cheque to help with the running of Bangor RNLI. The volunteers here are a credit to the organisation and an integral part of our community.”

Byron Griffiths, Bangor RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: “We are extremely grateful for these very generous donations from Campbell College Kindergarten and the Rotary Club of North Down. These funds will power our lifesaving work and help our volunteers to continue to save lives at sea.”

For more information on the RNLI, visit: www.rnli.org

Down Royal announces full fibre broadband provider Fibrus as headline sponsor of debut family race meeting.

Racegoers of all ages across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to attend Down Royal’s brand new Fibrus Family Race Day taking place on Sunday 14^th April.

This partnership will see Fibrus secure title naming rights to this year’s new race meeting bringing the total number of fixtures at Down Royal in 2024 to fourteen.

With something for everyone, families will be able to enjoy a day of exciting National Hunt racing, combined with fantastic kids’ entertainment including bouncy castles, face painters, balloon modellers, a petting farm and so much more.

A first-time sponsor at Down Royal, Fibrus is an award-winning company, first established in Northern Ireland, and is on a mission to bring fibrefast Full Fibre Broadband to rural homes and businesses across NI and the UK.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Dominic Kearns, CEO at Fibrus, said: “Fibrus is delighted to be sponsoring the inaugural Fibrus Family Race Day at Down Royal. As well as being our introduction to the world of horse racing, this is a brand-new fixture for Down Royal and we’re thrilled to be a part of such an exciting partnership.

“We’re looking forward to seeing families come together and enjoy a day of excitement, laughter and cherished memories all while watching some fantastic horse racing.”

Kathryn Holland, commercial manager at Down Royal, added: “We’re excited to inspire the next generation of horse-racing fans by encouraging people of all ages to attend out new family fixture. This is part of our wider strategy to safeguard the future of horse-racing in Northern Ireland.

“We want to showcase the vibrant atmosphere of our racecourse to all, therefore, with general admission, children under 14 can attend for free with a ticket-holding adult, offering great value for money.”

For more information, visit downroyal.com/tickets.

Actor James Nesbitt showed his support for Marie Curie as he launched the leading end of life charity’s 38^th Great Daffodil Appeal in Belfast.

 Marie Curie cares for people in their homes and at its hospices, whatever their illness, bringing clinical care, comfort and emotional support to individuals facing end of life or those close to them.

Throughout March, volunteer collectors will be out and about on high streets and at stores in every village, town and city across Northern Ireland collecting donations with their iconic daffodil pin.

Depending on fundraising and legacy donations to fund its work, Marie Curie provided at home and in-patient hospice care to nearly 5,000 people last year which costs around £11.1m per year.

Known for his latest television work in crime drama Bloodlands, as well as his role as Adam in the long-running romantic comedy series, Cold Feet, Actor, James Nesbitt commended the charity, stating: “I greatly admire the Marie Curie nurses, healthcare assistants, doctors and the wide range of healthcare professionals who provide expert end of life care to people when care and support becomes more important than cure.

“Marie Curie could not operate without the help of its loyal and devoted band of volunteers. They are giving back to help others, often due to their own personal experiences from having their loved ones cared for by Marie Curie.”

One of these volunteers was Edwina Tester from Belfast, whose late husband Victor was cared for at the Belfast hospice before he died in 2004. Edwina said: “It was lovely to meet Jimmy Nesbitt and for him to take the time to support our Great Daffodil Appeal. I’ve been collecting and volunteering for Marie Curie for 20 years as I wanted to do my bit as a thank you for the care that my husband received.”

Ciara Gallagher, Head of Funding for Marie Curie in Northern Ireland, added: “Every £23 raised helps Marie Curie provide an hour of nursing care for someone at home. Everything we do, everything we fund, is so that everyone can have the best quality of life to the end.”

Superdrug are proud to be headline partner for Marie Curie, inviting customers to purchase a daffodil pin from any of their stores. People can also pick up a daffodil pin at their local Spar store where customers may also buy a bunch of fresh cut daffodils, with 10p per bunch being donated to Marie Curie.

For more information and to donate, visit: Mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil or contact Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.