Local charity celebrates world record fundraiser

Local charity celebrates world record fundraiser

30 May 2012 - by Ciara Colhoun

A DOWNPATRICK charity has made its way into the Guinness Book of Records after creating the world’s biggest tombola stall in Castlewellan last summer.

Mainstay Down Residential Project, which provides services to hundreds of people with learning disabilities, created the Titanic tombola during a fun day in Castlewellan Forest Park last August.

The colossal tombola containing over 4,800 prizes beat the current record by 600 prizes.

It took staff, committee members and supporters months to gather together the prizes for the tombola by lobbying local businesses and shoppers, who generously contributed gifts valued from between £1 and over £100.

Mainstay, which shares its 20th anniversary with the Titanic’s centenary celebrations, is delighted that the event has now made it into the Guinness Book.

The tombola, which raised £5,000 for Mainstay DRP, was just one of a number of fundraising events hosted by the charity to raise a £3.7m fund needed by March next year for the creation of a state-of-the-art facility for people with learning disabilities in Downpatrick.

Staff are also delighted that money raised through the tombola, together with money raised through a proactive fundraising drive, is bringing the new centre, which will include residential, respite and day-care services, closer to reality.

Mainstay DRP chief executive, Helen Taylor, said she would like to thank everyone who helped or donated goods for the award-winning tombola.

“We are very proud of this achievement,” she said.

“We hope everyone enjoyed the fun of winning prizes and I was amazed at some of our customers who left with bags full.

“The money raised will go to ensuring that the most vulnerable in society receive the care and support which they rightly deserve.”

The challenge was achieved at the 4 R’s in the Park fun-day last August in Castlewellan Forest Park. The photographic, video and witness evidence was submitted to Guinness World Records the following month, before word finally came through that the bid had been a success.

The challenge was sponsored by First Trust, Asda and Down Council.