Family’s £10k donation to Royal Victoria Hospital

Family’s £10k donation to Royal Victoria Hospital

19 June 2019

A LOCAL family has handed over a cheque for £10,000 to the cardiothoracic unit at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

Representatives from the Trainor family from Newcastle and Newry raised the money during two pub quizzes — one at the Harbour Inn in Newcastle last November and the other at the Canal Court in Newry in January.

In addition, six family members took park in the Belfast City Marathon and thanks to sponsorship from 191 people for this particular event, the £10,000 fundraising target was achieved.

The cheque was handed over to the Royal’s consultant cardiologist, Dr Nicola Johnston — who received it on behalf of hospital trustees and the cardiothoracic surgeons — by sisters Carmel O’Boyle and Kate O’Hanlon.

Dr Johnston thanked Carmel and Kate and Maria Matthews, their families and friends for their generosity in raising such a huge amount in just under six months. 

“We hope to use this money to pay for staff training and to carry out research within the cardiothoracic unit at the Royal,” she said.

Mrs O’Boyle, who represented the family at the cheque presentation, said it was a pleasure to be able to express their thanks to the Royal for taking such good care of a member of a family. 

“We are so grateful to the people who donated to our fundraising appeal,” she added.

Mrs O’Boyle said donations were received from Crossmaglen to Crossgar and everywhere in between, as well as from Belfast, Dublin, Donegal, Durham, Sheffield, Aberdeen, Port Talbot, Cardiff, Manchester and London. 

She added: “It is good to know we have good friends in so many places. In particular, we want to thank the individuals, groups and business people from Newry and Newcastle whose generosity was overwhelming.”