Accessibility Features
Accessibility | Skip to Start of Article | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation Menu | Skip to Themes | Skip to Regions | Skip to Members Sign InAccessibility Features
Accessibility | Skip to Start of Article | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation Menu | Skip to Themes | Skip to Regions | Skip to Members Sign In
Kildress Plumbing Suppliers Ltd in Cookstown has taken top prize in the NICVA Link Awards 2008, organised in association with BT, after raising a huge sum of money for Action MS.
A Mid-Ulster company has taken top prize in the Charity Oscars after raising a huge sum of money for Action MS, which helps people with multiple sclerosis. Kildress Plumbing Suppliers, Drum Road, Cookstown, grabbed the overall winner spot at the NICVA Link Awards, organised in association with BT.
Company representative Des Keenan received the trophy from popular Coronation Street mechanic Tyrone Dobbs (actor Alan Halsall) at a gala dinner in Belfast to celebrate the final Link awards on their 21st birthday.
Other winners in the NICVA Link Awards, which recognise the contribution to good causes by businesses and other organisations, were:
Des Keenan from Kildress Plumbing Supplies Lit holds the Link Overall Winner trophy, with Ann Walker from nominating charity, Action MS. Also from left are Peter Morris, BT, Bob Strong, NICVA, Minister Margaret Ritchie and Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs).
Kildress Plumbing Suppliers first raised £65,000 for a mobile holiday home specially adapted for wheelchair users. The home in Portstewart is in huge demand from MS patients.
The firm then aimed even higher with a target of collecting £100,000 for a mobile care centre and reached it thanks to huge effort by the entire staff and many local volunteers.
Des Keenan from Kildress played a major role in raising the money and persuaded other companies operating in Mid Ulster to make big contributions – Meteor, Fisher Engineering, McAleer & Rushe, LCC and McKernan Construction.
A mobile care unit will allow Action MS to extend its valuable services to places outside Belfast and other cities.
said Ann Walker from Action MS.
"Time and again we have heard from people living in rural areas of their deep frustration that all services are concentrated in Belfast.
"Fatigue is a big problem for people with MS and travelling can be very tiring and expensive if you are living on a fixed income. The mobile care centre is now bringing the much-needed services to their doorstep".
The runners-up in each category were:
Footer
NICVA | 61 Duncairn Gardens | Belfast | BT15 2GB
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action is registered as a company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland (No 1792) and is registered as a charity for tax purposes with the Inland Revenue