Charity event raised £5,500 for leukaemia

Charity event raised £5,500 for leukaemia

24 June 2015

A DOWNPATRICK family has raised over £5,500 for a local charity dedicated to finding a cure for leukaemia.

Patricia Forsythe raised the money for the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology after her husband John died of the disease almost a year ago. The Ballydugan Road woman, and her sons, felt they wanted to give something back to the hospitals and medical staff who helped her husband so much.

The Forsythe family organised a fundraising event at Downpatrick Cricket Club on May 25 which took the form of a dance-off to music played by a band consisting of Patricia’s sons Shane, Brian and Jeremy as well as Patricia’s grandson, Barry Forsythe.

Patricia’s other son, Donall, lives in Australia but he didn’t let that stop him getting in on the act and he actively promoted the event over Facebook with his friends.

“We felt we wanted to give something back to the City and Downe Hospitals which helped John so much and couldn’t have given more,” said Patricia.

The £5,500 raised by Patricia and her family will be given to Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology in Belfast, the only charity in Northern Ireland to seek the cause and cure of leukaemia. At least three people a day are diagnosed with blood cancer, a disease which can affect any family. 

The Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology is very dependant on small groups of supporters around Northern Ireland such as the Forsythe family and are very grateful for those who give their time, skills and talent to provide the funds for this research.