The Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, councillor Mealla Campbell, has officially announced three organisations as the chosen charities for her term in office.
Charities set to benefit from monies raised throughout the Lord Mayor’s term include Armagh Support Group for Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, Inspire Mental Health and Katie Rose McKeown.
Speaking after the launch the Lord Mayor, Mealla Campbell commented: “In my year of office I was keen to support charities that were close to my heart.
“The Armagh Support Group of the NI Cancer Fund for children raise much needed funds to support the Daisy Lodge facility in Newcastle and offer respite breaks to families of children going through cancer treatment.
“Having visited the Daisy Lodge earlier this year and seeing the work that they do and what it means to families to get away from the sterile hospital environment I was keen to help support their facility to ensure this good work continues.
“Inspire Mental Health are a local charity based in Dobbin Street, Armagh and they provide a very valuable service to people who are struggling with their mental health.
“They offer support, advice, services, workshops and signposting for people who are facing a wide remit of mental health issues.
“One of my priorities for the year is to raise awareness of mental health issues and challenge the stigma around mental health.
“Having struggled myself following the loss of my brother in 2016 I wanted to speak out and encourage people to come forward and seek help.
“Mental health is equally as important as physical and this is a message that needs to be reinforced time and time again.
“My third charity for the year is Katie Rose. Katie Rose is my eight-year-old neighbour who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at the age of six.
“Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer and treatment options in the UK are limited.
“She has been undergoing gruelling frontline treatment here in Northern Ireland but when it is completed she hopes to travel to the US to access a clinical trial to try and rid her of this cancer permanently. Her parents are doing an incredible job of highlighting her journey and I wanted to add my support to their fundraising efforts.”
To find out more information or how to donate to the Lord Mayor’s charities please contact the Lord Mayor’s Office on 028 3752 9600.
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