Mid Ulster residents join together on Facebook to raise cash for Philippines

A GROUP of kind-hearted Mid-Ulster people have come together via Facebook to help raise cash for aid for people of the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
By Gillian McDade
Published 2nd Dec 2013, 15:42 BST
Philippine military personnel try to prioritize children and women first as people wait for evacuation flights in Tacloban, Central Philippinesnon Tuesday last. 1411 INDD 1 Phillippines MVBPhilippine military personnel try to prioritize children and women first as people wait for evacuation flights in Tacloban, Central Philippinesnon Tuesday last. 1411 INDD 1 Phillippines MVB
Philippine military personnel try to prioritize children and women first as people wait for evacuation flights in Tacloban, Central Philippinesnon Tuesday last. 1411 INDD 1 Phillippines MVB

After seeing distressing images a group of people have got together - they include soul man Mark Casey, DJ Frances Quinn, photographer Cathy Dempster, DJ Sammy English, teacher Joanne Morgan, business and admin ladies Michelle Howard and Karen Conlon and social and youth worker Claire Murphy. They were brought together by a Facebook status created by Louise Hunter, proprietor of Blush Cookstown.

Fundraising kicked off on Friday (November 29) in The Dunleath with music by Mark Casey, band Sonlight and country star Daniel Newman. During the evening an electric washburn guitar, donated by John McLaughlin, was auctioned and dancing continued into the early hours with a disco by DJ Francis Quinn. Other activities have included the selling of handmade bracelets, created by a Filipino woman - available at Blush. Holy Trinity primary school pupil Conor Howard has organised ‘Guess the sweets in the jar’ for his classmates. On Friday (Dec 6) at 8.30pm there will be a ‘Big Fat Christmas Quiz’ in the Railway. Entry is £5 - wear a Christmas jumper! Thanks go to businesses who donated; Spirit, Inked, McGlaughlins and Blush Hair and Beauty. Popular photographer Cathy Dempster will be auctioning off an original print on the night. Then on Saturday, DJ Mandy Reid headlines at Heaven, Cookstown. Doors open at 9.30pm and door tax is £6 with 100 per cent of proceeds going directly to the appeal.

To make a donation to the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk, call 0370 60 60 900, donate at any bank or post office. You can also donate £5 by texting SUPPORT to 70000.

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