Ballyalton woman is fundraising in Europa abseil

Ballyalton woman is fundraising in Europa abseil

6 April 2016

A BALLYALTON daredevil is half way towards securing a defibrillator for her local community.

Christina Holland has raised almost £1,000 for the lifesaving equipment by abseiling down the side of the Europa Hotel in Belfast.

She is determined to raise twice that amount for the defibrillator, which might one day be needed by her nine year-old nephew Charlie who has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

The syndrome, which causes an extra electrical current in his heart, was discovered when Charlie became dangerously ill while undergoing a routine tonsillectomy.

Since his diagnosis, his family has been aware that although Charlie is most likely to have a normal and health life, his condition could be potentially life-threatening. 

That is why Christina hopes to purchase a defibrillator through the Red Cross for Ballyalton where it would be available to the whole community as well as Charlie and his family.

After her abseil she said she was delighted to have already raised £960 towards her goal.

She said she would continue her fundraising effort due to the increasing number of young people losing their lives due to undiagnosed heart problems.

“There are many other cases of heart defects out there and with the statistics going up rapidly of many young people losing their lives to heart problems, a defibrillator could benefit such a small community and help save lives,” she said.

Anyone interested in helping Christina reach her £2,000 target may do so via her Go Funding page at https://www.gofundme.com/xvu9ef4s