Charity nights to support brave Nicola in MS battle

Charity nights to support brave Nicola in MS battle

2 November 2016

THERE will be a double fundraiser with a difference at Downpatrick Cricket Club this weekend.

Lip Synch, in which 40 local contestants will battle it out to best mimic singers of their chosen sound track, will be held in aid of a Downpatrick mum with progressive MS and the new charity All Lives are Precious.

This will be the latest local effort to help mother of two Nicola Feenan raise £50,000 for potentially life-changing stem cell treatment in Mexico.

Nicola hopes the pioneering treatment, to which she is not entitled on the NHS because of the nature of her condition, may help her walk again.

Having launched her campaign in September with the help of her sister, Gillian Rea, Nicola this week said she was stunned to have already reached £18,000 through massive community support.

Optimistic that they might reach the half way fund-raising point by Christmas, she said she was buoyed by the level of support offered to her.

“It has been absolutely amazing and so many people have contacted me to offer to help out,” she said.

“Every single penny helps and every single fundraiser is hugely appreciated.”

The founder of All Lives are Precious (ALP), Ronan Gilchrist, from Downpatrick, said his fledgling charity is also keen to help Nicola.

Ronan explained that his charity aims to help people with specific health or training needs and said Nicola fitted this remit as she desperately needed help.

He said Nicola, who is appealing for as much help as possible to help her receive her treatment within a year, was the perfect example of somebody he would seek to help.

Ronan, who is a suicide prevention facilitator, said ALP would also provide suicide prevention training and raise mental health awareness throughout the area.

“The money raised through the Lip Synch will stay local,” he said.

“It is a joint fundraiser between myself and Emmanuel McMenamin, from Downpatrick Boxing Academy, who is driving forward Nicola Feenan’s campaign to help her beat MS,” he said, “In terms of ALP, the money will be used to train people in the local community for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.”

The Lip Synch will be held over two nights at Downpatrick Cricket Club. The first session will be on Saturday, November 5, compered by Frank Mitchell, with the second event the following Saturday.

Tickets are £10 each and are available from Bargainland in Downpatrick or from the organisers and contestants. Everyone is welcome.