Claudy man’s birthday present to charity

Stephen Falconer from Straidarran decided to give something back to the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS), the only charity in the UK working for people with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), their families and their medical teams - and made good on a promise made two decades ago when the former joiner was first diagnosed with the debilitating illness.

“I’ve had it since I was twenty-years old. When I was originally diagnosed I said I would send a cheque if I was still around on my 40th birthday to the NASS charity.

“So rather than ask for a load of presents that would have been left about the place I asked people if they would make a donation instead,” Stephen told the paper.

AS is a form of inflammatory arthritis. Formerly know as Behketerrev’s disease it can affect the spine and neck and is thought to be genetic.

Stephen explained: “It’s a hereditary illness - the B27 gene. I went off my feet with it last May (2010) and have been using crutches since then. It depends. You get good spells and bad spells. You could get a bad flare up for two or three weeks, you know. Your social life is up the left. You can’t work.”

Despite the debilitating effects of the illness NASS is the only registered charity dedicated to helping people affected by it.

The charity provides practical advice and assistance to some of the 200,000 people in the UK diagnosed with AS.

About one third of these sufferers are unable to work and since 1976 NASS has played a crucial role in researching AS providing information, fact sheets, exercise DVDs, practical aids and keeping people up to date with the latest developments with AS through a magazine every four months.

NASS receives no Government or statutory funding and relies on donations from the general public and people like Stephen.

This is what inspired the Straidarran man to - with no little help from the Faughan Valley Line Dancers and the Salt Old Time Dancers - raise over £2,000 for such a good cause on his birthday on June 17.

“NASS have been a great help to me over the years,” said Stephen. “I’m over the moon to get so much. I set out with a target of £1,000 originally and to have doubled it, it just shows you the support of the people who donated.”

He added: “There is no cure for it yet. They need money for research and things like that and in order to provide advice to people who have it.”

Stephen says he is very grateful for the support he has received and wants to thank all of those who chipped in so generously towards the fundraising effort. I would sincerely like to thank Heather and the Faughan Valley Line Dancers for there kind donation of £310 and also SALT Old Time Dancers for attending the June dance and to all who donated prizes for the raffle, which raised £488.45.

“Last of all to my wife, family and friends who attended my party, gave donations or helped in any way. Thank you all so much. This will be a great help to NASS,” said Stephen.

Stephen looks forward to future fundraising drives and has been informed by NASS that he is a pioneer on this side of the Irish Sea in that regard.

“I’m the first registered fundraiser for NASS in Northern Ireland. I’m hoping to hold one or two events every year and NASS are very happy with it,” he told the Sentinel.