Event raises over £5,000 for charity

Event raises over £5,000 for charity

19 October 2016

A CHARITY football tournament in memory of a popular Ballykinlar man has raised over £5,000 for a charity working towards reducing the frequency of young sudden cardiac death.

In February last year Michael Fisher passed away suddenly and in an effort to thank those who helped support his family and friends at the time, a soccer tournament was organised in his memory.

Michael worked as a technical support officer at Fujitsu, as well as part-time at The Botanic Inn. Part of the the bar’s annually charity fundraising involved organising a charity football tournament which had proved popular, raising around £1,000 for charity each year.

“We asked the management of the bar if they had any objections to us running the tournament this year in memory of Michael, with all funds raised being donated to CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young),” said Michael’s sister Catherine.

Together with her brothers Martin and Stephen, and a group of friends, they set about organising the tournament which was played at the beginning of July on the Queen’s University pitches at The Dub. 

Many businesses were keen to offer their support and on the day 17 teams took part in what will now become an annual fundraiser in memory of Michael.

On Thursday evening Michael’s family met at the Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast where a cheque for £5,755 was presented to CRY.

They were joined by CRY volunteer, Martin Collins from Lisburn, who also lost his 16-year-old son Nicholas to sudden cardiac death 14 years ago.

Speaking following the cheque presentation Michael’s father and mother, Lennie and Anne expressed their thanks to all those who took part on the day or contributed to their fund-raising.

“Michael’s brothers Martin and Stephen, his sister Catherine, and fiancée Grainne have done him proud. We had great support from friends and family and today we are delighted to hand over the money we have raised to CRY,” said Lennie.