By 
A GENEROUS Castlederg couple have marked a milestone wedding anniversary by donating more than £5,000 to two local charities.
Tommy and Mary Arkinson recently celebrated 50 years of marriage, surrounded by family members, friends and dancing companions.
Over the past 20 years, Tommy and Mary have been fortunate enough to give back to the community by raising funds for Chest, Heart and Stroke, Macmillan Cancer, Alzheimer’s Society, and Castlederg Patient Comfort and Terminally Ill Fund, to name but a few charities who have been a great source of support and care when was needed for their own family.
In lieu of gifts for their golden anniversary, the kind-hearted pair simply requested a donation be made towards supporting the work of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Both of these charities provide vital support, care and assistance to those at their most vulnerable times. Having presented Raymond McKinley from the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland and Colin Bell from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust with the cheques, Tommy and Mary would like to sincerely thank their family and friends, dancing companions and wider community for their generous donations, and to all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly for these invaluable charities.
They have expressed heartfelt thanks for all you have done, and continue to do, for everyone.