Barmen take on gruelling challenge for cancer charity

WHEN four-year-old Caitlin Maguire ‘rang the bell’ in the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children, it marked the end of a year-long battle with a rare form of childhood cancer.

The Trillick girl’s bravery, coupled with the care and kindness of the hospital staff, has inspired Caitlin’s godfather, Shane Horisk.

Along with two fellow barmen at Sallys in Omagh, they will each take on three marathon distances in one day for The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity.

Speaking to the UH, Shane said, “I told the boys in the bar that I’d like to do something to repay the people who helped Caitlin and the family through the past year, and Micky McBride and Niall McDaid said that whatever I chose to do, they’d do it along with me.”

Different body-breaking ideas were bounced about, but a triple marathon on three exercise machines had the final say.

“We’ll be lucky if all three of us make it out the other side,” laughed Shane.

But the boys have been quietly toiling away in the gym for about a month, and it will be another four weeks before the day of reckoning arrives.

Shane continued, “We’ve been taking it fairly seriously – the pint intake has decreased, the diet has taken a healthier turn, and we’ve been busting it in the gym.”

A life behind the bar endows a man with the ability to see the funny side of most things, and the boys to have been having a laugh about their training and preparation, but the money they have raised so far is no joke.

Shane explained, “We were aiming at £5,000 from the outset, but were humbled and frankly stunned, when we hit that target so quickly.

“We’ve over £6,000 raised as we speak, so we are going to push on and try to get £10,000.”

Shane imagines the day when he is able to hand Caitlin that cheque so she can present it to the people that helped save her life, and kept her spirits high through every parent’s worst nightmare.

“Every time she went for treatment,” said Shane, “they done something to make a bleak situation a bit more fun.

“Caitlin always left with a teddy or a toy and the staff were always trying to put a smile on her face.”

The boys have been overwhelmed by the support offered by local people and businesses.

“Everything you can think of, we’ve had it donated – there are going to be a heap of raffles coming too.

“If you are after a bed, bottle of gin, new kitchen cabinet, or maybe all three, keep an eye on the Facebook page.”

So go and join to the wave of local support and make Caitlin’s token of gratitude that bit bigger!

• Find the donation location and raffles at ‘Shane’s fundraiser for The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity’ on Facebook and donate.