Holly’s family present funds to charities

THE FAMILY of Strabane girl Holly Gormley, who passed away last year from aplastic anaemia, journeyed to Belfast last week, to present funds to two vital services which were instrumental in helping Holly during her battle with the disease.

Holly’s parents Gareth and Claire, along with her brother JD, presented the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity with a whopping £3,410 whilst giving a further £1,000 to Paul’s House (Young Lives against Cancer), a facility which offers free accommodation to families whose children are undergoing cancer treatment. The monies were raised from sales of a memorial pin in commemoration of Holly’s birthday.

Eleven-year-old Holly was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in January of last year following a battery of tests after feeling unwell. A fundraising and awareness campaign was undertaken in the name of the Anthony Nolan Trust in the hope of increasing donorship so that a suitable person could be found. A chink of light emerged in July when Holly travelled to Newcastle for the procedure. Unfortunately it was not to be and Holly passed weeks later.

Holly’s mum Claire commented, “We were delighted to go to Belfast last week as a family and present these two charities with funds raised from the sales of Holly’s memorial pin. We also got the opportunity to meet with Fiona Redpath, one of the nurses who treated Holly during her stay in hospital and a dear friend.

“Our family are, and will be, eternally grateful to each and every one who purchased a pin in Holly’s memory. Many local businesses, schools, and theatre groups helped with the sale of the pin and they need to be publicly acknowledged and thanked. The unwavering support, kindness, loves and understanding from family and friends has been nothing short of overwhelming. We as a family will continue to help support charities which help families like us who have had to navigate these life-changing circumstances.”

In addition, Claire would like to impress upon people the importance of giving blood when the opportunity arises and would implore people to do so when any blood donation drive is near their area as it can save lives.