We hope that Strictly Come Dancing will raise the much-needed money for Nicola’s treatment

We hope that Strictly Come Dancing will raise the much-needed money for Nicola’s treatment

15 February 2017

A DOWNPATRICK mum is hoping a Strictly Come Dancing event will help her secure potentially life-changing treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Nicola Feenan hopes the April fundraiser will help her raise £50,000 needed to travel to Mexico this summer for pioneering Hematopioetic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT).

Mother-of-two Nicola suffers from a progressive form of MS, which has left her virtually wheelchair-bound.

Desperate to halt the development of her illness, she was heartened last year to hear about HSCT, which is designed to reboot a patient’s immune system through gruelling chemotherapy treatment.

Launching the Help Nicola Beat MS campaign in September, Nicola, and her sister Gillian Rea, have rallied friends, family and supporters to work towards the £50,000 needed.

Having already exceeded £30,000, they now have just a few months left to raise the remainder and are hopeful the Strictly event, which will be held at Downpatrick Cricket Club on April 1st, will provide a significant boost.

The event is being organised by Nicola’s friend Aveen Magorrian, who is delighted to have lined up eight couples who are now in training with choreographer Jenna Finnegan.

Aveen said she was optimistic there would be great support for the event.

“I have been a friend of Nicola’s for the past 13 years, back then Nicola didn’t have MS and was so energetic and always on the go,” she said.

“Although Nicola is suffering greatly due to MS, she still has that same energetic spirit and enthusiasm as she did when we first met.

“We all hope that Strictly Come Dancing will raise the much-needed money for Nicola’s Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant treatment.

“It would be life-changing for her and her family to halt and hopefully reverse the progression of this dreadful disease.”

With Newry Mourne and Down Council chairwoman Gillian Fitzpatrick and Paralympic gold medallist Bethany Firth confirmed as judges, Aveen said the event already promised to be a great night of entertainment with dancing, a 

raffle and music by Island Events.

She said local businesses had been very generous with sponsorship with anyone interested in publicity on the night asked to contact fundraisers through the Help Nicola Beat MS Facebook page.

Tickets for Strictly Come Dancing are £12 and are available from the dancers, Tel’s shop and the Cricket Club.