Dani-Jay strikes again with more fund-raising generosity

DANI-JAY Harkin is no stranger to fundraising activities having raised over £3,000 last year for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

This year the selfless six-year-old is back at it, having raised an astonishing £1,500 in order to purchase toys and games for the sick children of Ward 6 in Altnagelvin hospital.

Dani-Jay’s own health problems began when she was just six weeks old and, following stays in hospitals in Liverpool and Belfast, it was found that she had an abnormally large intestine. She consequently underwent a procedure called an ileostomy, which is an operation that brings the end of the small bowel through an opening in the stomach to form a stoma. During her stay in Belfast, a poster emblazoned with the words ‘Helping Hands’ – an independent charity with the aim of aiding the children under the hospital’s care – inspired Dani-Jay to undertake her first fundraising campaign and now, she’s at it again.

Dani-Jay’s latest heart-warming gesture came about when she found herself laden with birthday money, deciding she wanted to use it to put a smile on the faces of fellow patients in Ward 6.

Dani-Jay’s mother Gemma explained, “Dani-Jay has undergone a lot of health issues since she was a baby, attending Ward 6 in Altnagelvin. She was talking one day with Cathy, part of the play services on the ward, who said that they needed arts and crafts toys for the children. Dani-Jay, being the selfless little girl she is, took her birthday money totalling £160 and immediately used it to buy the toys for the children of the ward.”

A conversation with her grandad Enda later ensured that Dani-Jay’s generosity didn’t stop there.

Gemma continued, “Dani-Jay’s grandad lives in Newtoncunningham and, after speaking with her, he decided he wanted to help. Along with a few friends, he organised a tractor plough which raised a further £1,500 thanks to the generous donations of those who turned out on the day. That money went towards a new TV and some PlayStation games. The hospital and kids were absolutely delighted with the new toys and can’t thank Dani-Jay and her grandad enough!”