Adam raises £25,000 for charity

Adam Kerr, held a fundraising night at Drumbo Greyhound Stadium which raised £10,000 but as if that was not enough he also abseiled down the Europa and ziplined 145 feet across the River Lagan at the Odyssey at the weekend to raise the rest.

Adam Kerr, who lost his brother Brian (10) from a rare blood disorder just before Christmas said that he hopes the money will help other families. He said that he has been indebted to the NICFC because of the help he has personally received from the charity over the last few years.

Adam also lost Brian’s twin sister Helen (3) who died eight years ago. She suffered from a condition HLH a rare disorder of the immune system. When Brian and Helen were born on February 24, 2002 they were both premature, and spent five weeks in the Ulster Hospital.

Helen was just two years of age she took ill suddenly and had to undergo courses of chemotherapy. At first she was in remission but weeks later when Helen relapsed her mother Gaye was told that her daughter would need a bone marrow transplant at Bristol Children’s Hospital, if she was to survive.

Their elder brother Adam was an exact match and donated the bone marrow to Helen, a procedure that took place on Adam’s sixth birthday June 24, 2005. At first the procedure seemed to work but then Helen became ill again suffering from acute graft verses where her organs began to shut down. Helen died six months after her diagnosis on August 10, 2005 at the age of three. Brian who won a pupil of courage award from the SEELB suffered from a rare genetic disorder Fanconi’s Anaemia and had battled the rare, inherited blood disorder which led to bone marrow failure for much of his life.

Adam’s mother Gaye said, “I feel that Adam has done his part. He wanted to do something in memory of Helen and Brian and he has done that. He has exceeded all expectations.

“It is now time Adam can be Adam and live his life. We do not want Brian and Helen to ever be forgotten. They will not be forgotten. I plan to make sure their name is not forgotten and will be holding an event at Drumbo every year in Brian and Helen’s name.”

Adam said that he was well pleased with the amount raised.

“When I got the phone call to tell me of the amount I just said ‘that is sweet,’” he said. “I was really shocked. I never imagined I could raise that much. The charity helped us and continue to help us through this difficult time and I hope it will go towards helping other families.”

NICFC of Briege Price said: “Gaye’s fundraising efforts for NI Cancer Fund for Children are breathtaking. The enthusiasm and commitment Gaye shows for NICFC are second to none. What makes it so special is that Gaye does this to help parents like herself so NICFC can continue to provide a real lifeline to families affected by childhood cancer.”