Auction, raffle and entertainment evening for Memorial Garden fund

Andera Mc Aleese, with the last picture of Roma which was taken on the day she died.PICTURE MARK JAMIESON.

Andrea McAleese, a well known Coleraine woman, tragically lost her little daughter Roma back in 2009.

So far an amazing £12,600 has been donated since Andrea first floated the idea on facebook before Christmas.

An architect from Coleraine, but who now lives in Australia, has already put together plans for the garden, which Andrea hopes will be a quiet dignified space that will help local parents.

“Times are really tight for everyone, we know that, but it amazes me that people can still find the time to donate to charity.

“We are aiming to raise £20,000 to build a garden in Coleraine for parents to come to remember their children who sadly are no longer with us.

“We are still working on a location at the minute, but I am hopeful that this will be confirmed in the next few weeks.

“Everyone is aware of my story, but there are so many others out there.”

Next weekend the charity will host their biggest fundraiser to date - an ‘Auction, Raffle and Entertainment Evening’ in the Lodge Hotel.

Tickets are still available priced at £10 and there are some great prizes up for grabs.

“We have hundreds of prizes and items for auction, businesses in the area have been so generous,” explained Andrea.

Just this week Northern Ireland captain Steve Davis donated a signed Northern Ireland shirt.

That has been added to an ever growing list of items including chanel, GHD and Este Lauder goodie bags, beauty vouchers, clothing vouchers, hamper and restaurant vouchers, gym passes and tennis lessons.

There’s also VIP hospitality passes for the NW200, hotel vouchers and holiday vouchers.

Tickets are available from Romaya, Society Street, Coleraine or from the Lodge Hotel.