Hi and thank you for visiting our page

In 2020 we are proudly supporting MacMillan Cancer Care, Angel Wishes & NI Guide Dogs.

These fantastic charities we have chosen are to support three of our colleagues who have been directly affected.

Alex Selfridge – MacMillan

Hi, my name is Alex Selfridge, a firefighter stationed in Maghera. On 24th of September 2018 I was diagnosed with Leukaemia. My chosen charity is MacMillan Cancer Support, our aim is to raise money for vital services provided by McMillan. All money raised will help people living with and affected with cancer. MacMillan cancer support provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have on our lives.

Barney Regan – Angel Wishes

Hi, my name is Barney Regan, I am a Crew Commander stationed in Maghera. My chosen charity is Angel Wishes; a charity based solely in Northern Ireland which supports children who are fighting cancer. This charity has played a big part in my family’s life over the past two years. On the 23rd of January 2018 our son Michael was born at a healthy 9lb 1oz. After five months of persistent infections and sickness Michael was diagnosed with a life-threatening form of leukaemia called JMML. Michael received a stem cell transplant in the starlight ward in Bristol children’s hospital in September 2018. Michaels brother Charlie, 6 years old at the time was a match for the stem cell and being the super hero he is donated his bone marrow to Michael.

Due to complications Michael relapsed shortly after his transplant and the search for a new donor began.

After a worldwide search Michael got a match and on October 17th 2019 received his second stem cell transplant. As I write these words Michael is now 120 days post-transplant and getting stronger day by day.

Being told your child has cancer is a trauma that cannot be described. Gaye Kerr who founded Angel Wishes is only too aware of that trauma. The charity was set up by Gaye in memory of her twins Helen & Brian Kerr. Both sadly lost their fight to cancer as children. Gaye Kerr’s daughter Helen suffered from a rare disorder of the immune system called HLH and passed away in 2005 at the age of 3. Helens twin brother Brian was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Fanconi Anaemia and passed away in 2012 at the age of 10. Gaye is a full-time career established Angel Wishes as a support group in early 2015 and in February 2016 registered Angel Wishes as a charity.

It provides children and young people with toys, VIP cinema trips, concerts, provides the children with electronic tablets and devices and many more gifts. Gaye very kindly provided Michael with toys for his two stays at the starlight ward in Bristol children’s hospital along with donations towards travel and flights. While Gaye will never get over losing her children her work with Angel Wishes helps to keep the memory of her twins alive.

All those involved in Angel Wishes are volunteers and 100% of all money raised goes directly to helping the families affected.

Paul Dorrity – NI Guide Dogs

Hi, my name is Paul Dorrity, I am a Crew Commander stationed in Maghera. Our chosen charity is Guide Dogs Northern Ireland and is very close to my family’s hearts as our daughter Sarah was born in February 2019 and contracted Strep B and meningitis. This has led to an eye condition called (CVI) Cortical visual impairment that is a form of visual impairment that is caused by a complication with her brain. In January 2020 Sarah was registered as (SSI)Severely Sight Impaired / Blind.

The support that guide dogs NI have given us during the early stages has been so beneficial. The charity has provided us with a one to one carer to help stimulate Sarah’s other senses.

Guide dogs NI receive no government funding for the guide dog service and therefore rely entirely on donations from the public. Each lifetime partnership, from birth to retirement costs the charity a staggering £55,000. Sight loss will be life changing for Sarah but so will the guide dogs.

To raise money for the charities we have three fantastic events that we will need all your help and support for!!

1. On Saturday May 2nd 2020, we will be having street collection in Maghera and a donor registration day, come along and meet all our team for light refreshments!!

2. On Sunday May 3rd 2020, 13 of our team will be taking part in the Belfast marathon!! We will need all your encouragement so come along and support the Run for Life!!

3. The grand finale will take place on Saturday 13th of June 2020 in which we will be hosting a huge celebration of the Run For Life 2020, the celebration will consist of live entertainment from local bands, a live auction on the night, a BBQ and drinks at the bar, a night not to be missed, please come along and support these fantastic charities!!

We would like to thank you all for taking the time to visit our page.

Please give generously as all donations will be going equally to all three charities!!

Help us RUN FOR LIFE 2020