Young singers come together to raise funds for Daisy Lodge retreat centre

Young singers come together to raise funds for Daisy Lodge retreat centre

4 July 2018

CHILDREN Helping Children is the name of a new choir raising the roof for the Daisy Lodge retreat centre in Newcastle.

Made up from young singers from 17 schools across Down, they are putting the final touches to the DVD of a new song which aims to raise money for the Cancer Fund for Children centre.

Local guitar teacher Mona Owens, who is behind the project, said she wanted to raise awareness of the great work done it does for families of children affected by cancer.

“The staff caring for the children show great care, compassion and kindness,” she said. “The children in my choir want to show they care too — by using their talent. 

“In doing so they are bringing joy and doing good for the community.”

The recording of the Daisy Lodge-themed song, written by Mona, was done at Hillside Studios, Loughinisland, by Gerard Dornan of Country Harmony fame.

“He put all the children at their ease,” said Mona. “Gerard is a singer-songwriter, who as well as being part of the much loved Country Harmony, does a lot with Sean Wallace in bringing in funds for Daisy Lodge.”

Mona has raised money for Daisy Lodge in the past with students from her guitar classes and has also created the Niall Rice Music award in honour of her nephew, who sadly died from a brain tumour.

Children Helping Children met at \the Lodge, Castlewellan, at the weekend to put the visuals together for the DVD, which is due to be released in September.

Mona added: “I want to send out my sincere thanks for the great welcome I received in all schools.”

The schools taking part are: Down High School, Downpatrick, St Patrick’s Grammar, Downpatrick, Kilkeel High school, St. Louis Grammar school, Kilkeel, Shimna Intergrated College, Newcastle, Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch, St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, St Malachy’s Primary, Castlewellan, Annsborough Intergrated Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Aughlisnafin, All Children’s Intergrated Primary School, Newcastle, St Mary’s Primary School, Newcastle, St Patrick’s Primary, Burrenreagh, St Josephs Primary, Carnacaville, Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary School, Downpatrick, Newcastle Primary School and Drumlins Intergrated Primary School.