Country star Derek at Daisy Lodge

Country star Derek at Daisy Lodge

23 September 2015

A CHART-TOPPING country music star has helped boost the spirits of a Ballynahinch family during a surprise 

visit to Cancer Fund for Children’s Daisy Lodge.

Derek Ryan, who has made his way to the top of the Irish charts with his album One Good Night, met 18 year-old Bethany Courtney who is living with a cancer-related illness.

Bethany was enjoying a therapeutic break at the Newcastle lodge with her family as she awaits a bone marrow transplant.

She was delighted to meet the Carlow star who visited Daisy Lodge to help the charity mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Bathany’s mum Ros said they were delighted to meet the star in the flesh and said it was good to hear his positivity about Daisy Lodge while Bethany’s sister Jenny said she too was delighted to meet the musician.

“I was so excited to meet Derek, he is lovely. It has just added to our short break here at Daisy Lodge,” she said.

Joan Burden, hospitality manager for Daisy Lodge, which offers free short breaks to families affected by Cancer, showed Derek around the state of the art Shimna Valley Complex which incorporates Narnia Log Cabin.

“It is great to have Derek here to see Daisy Lodge. It helps raise awareness about how much families affected by cancer are in need of a short break to help them recuperate away from the stress of hospital visits and treatment,” she said.

Derek said he was honoured to have been asked to visit Daisy Lodge, which he described as “a fantastic place.”

“It’s great to see the family I met today enjoying some rest here,” he said.

“Daisy Lodge really is a credit to everyone involved. I hope to support it in some way in the future.”

Derek Ryan’s visit is just one event held as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 

There will also be a Gimme 5 campaign on Q Radio, ReadOn and the upcoming Bog Run in Castlewellan Forest Park in October.