Nominees for People to be Proud Of

BORN and bred in Lurgan’s Shankill, Kevin McLaughlin has been working tirelessly behind the scenes running a football league and raising thousands for charity.

Well known as the Ranger at Lord Lurgan Park, Kevin is a humble man and prefers to think of it as teamwork. However, he has helped spearhead the hugely successful Charity Summer League raising more than £100,000 for a host of charities during its 22 year history.

“A group of friends got together. We spied the John Burn Memorial trophy and we decided to start the tournament again,” said Kevin.

And he runs quizzes and dances throughout the year raising funds for such groups as Lurgan Downs and Proud, the Nightingale Project, Love for Life and Ceara School, to name but a few.

“It’s very humbling to raise money for those groups, to see the smiles on their faces and know that we have been able to help them,” said Kevin.

“It is a privilege to be able to help them and all the folks involved feel the same. The groups we raise money for are overwhelmed and delighted to get the funds. We are competitive with the sport but the bottom line is to raise as much money for the recipients that year.”

Kevin also raises money for St Peter’s Church Building Fund and is delighted with the progress so far. “The people you meet - they are an inspiration and work very hard for the community,” said Kevin.

Valerie Robinson

VALERIE Robinson went to a meeting of the Gateway Club with her friend about 20 years ago and that was the start of a long association with this organisation which provides practical help and support to people with learning disabilities.

“I just got hooked and kept going back on Wednesday nights,” said Valerie.

And it wasn’t long before she had a greater role within the organisation which meets at Lurgan Youth Annex.

The Club provides a recreational evening for people aged from 18 to 70 who have a learning difficulty and it gives much needed respite for their carers.

“There are snooker tables and members can play music, do some artwork and generally have a fun night,” Valerie explained.

Valerie not only helps to run the club but also runs many of days out for the club members, from trips to Bangor to Christmas dinners.

And none of this comes cheap as it takes a lot of time and effort to organise it all. As well as that the organisation does not receive public funds and, while all the staff work for free, there still needs to be cash to pay for things like insurance and transport, food and supplies.

“It is very rewarding or I would not be doing it. They give back far more than what I give them,” she said.

Valerie also helps out with the Cancer Unit at Belvoir Park and Belfast City Hospital.

Ray McLeod

JUST about every musician in Lurgan and much farther afield has popped into Ray McLeod’s shop over the past 30 plus years but not many know how hard he works behind the scenes for youth both here and abroad.

Not only does Ray sell everything to do with music from strings to banjos, his shop is an office for his charitable activities as well.

As a boy he became involved with the scouts and is now District Commissioner of Lurgan District as well as Explorer Scout Leader at Hill Street Scouts working with mostly 14-18 year olds.

A former Lurgan College pupil, Ray became a teacher at Lurgan Junior High, lecturing in biology and science before going to work in the BBC.

He played guitar and had been in a band with his close friend Terry Lockhart during the 1970s when Terry’s wife was killed in the La Mon bombing. Terry moved to the Philippines where he set up an orphanage for abandoned children. Impressed with his friend’s hard work helping the kids, Ray offered his services. Now he spends a great deal of time raising funds to help the orphanage which at any one time has up to 28 children.

“We set up an account here and 100% of the money raised goes to help those children,” said Ray. A humble man, Ray is animated and enthusiastic when he talks about his work with the scouts and the time he spent in the Philippines seeing first hand the work his friend Terry is doing and what has been achieved with the money raised.

Joe Kerr

FOR more than 20 years Joe Kerr has been involved in Lurgan Lions Club raising thousands for various charities both here in the town and throughout the world.

A builder by trade, Joe is a modest and enthusiastic worker who has put in hundreds of man hours in all weathers to raise cash for the club.

The Lions Club is a world wide organisation made up of members from all walks to life and Joe is proud of the fact that each club is part of a huge family that can come together in times of trouble to help out after both huge disasters such a tsunami or a local charity like the Gateway Club.

“I don’t care if it is helping children or the senior citizens. If the project is good enough, we will help out,” said Joe.

“We don’t keep any money. All the money we collect goes out again,” he said.

Joe explained that he got involved with the Lions Club through his friend Alban McMurray and never looked back. “I like to give 100%,” said Joe who lost his nine-year-old daughter in a tragic accident in 1980. “If you have got another day, smile and get on with it,” says Joe.

With just eight members in the Lurgan club, Joe and his team work hard to get the Easter eggs into all the clubs and pubs to raise cash for more charity work they want to do.

“I couldn’t do it without the help of my wife Jeannie,” he said, adding that the Club is eager to get more members to help with their work.

Jay Beattie

HE may only be eight years old but already in his young life Jay Beatty has been an inspiration to many.

Nominated by his father Michael, Jay has Downs Syndrome but this has not stopped this young Lurgan boy from enjoying life to the full.

Jay was born on December 23, 2003 and was transferred by ambulance after his birth to the Royal Victoria Hospital as he had a serious heart problem.

“It was very touch and go and then when he contracted the MRSA super bug we were very worried but six months later he finally got out of intensive care since then he has not looked back,” said proud dad Michael.

“He has crammed so much into his life.

“He was also the face of Downs Syndrome in America and each year has helped raise thousands of pounds for Downs and Proud through charity nights.”

Jay goes to Tannaghmore Primary School and is the first child with Downs Syndrome to do so.

“He is such a loveable wee character and is full of love you can’t not be happy when you meet him. He is the Celtic Club no 1 mascot and attends each game home and away and he just loves the team and they just love him. We are very proud of him and he has taught us all so much.”

Stephen Haughian

HE MAY be just 27 years old but Stephen Haughian has already punched well above his weight both inside and outside the ring, impressing all with his determination, zest for life and charisma.

Having studied at Tannaghmore Primary School, St Paul’s and St Michael’s, Stephen took up sports studies at the University of Ulster, a passion he has nurtured from childhood.

As an eight-year-old he started playing indoor soccer at Clann Eireann and when walking past the gym seeing guys a lot old boxing, he said: “I knew right away that is what I wanted to do.”

Have fought for Ireland, Stephen turned professional aged 19 and has boxed with some world class athletes.

His inspiration is Sugar Ray Leonard, ‘not just because of his boxing but his personae and the way he conducts himself out the ring’.

And Stephen has certainly taken a leaf out of his book, working hard as a coach in gyms, clubs and centres throughout the borough.

He doesn’t confine himself to training though, and has thrown himself into a variety of charity events including the Chernobyl Appeal and will be taking part in the Olympic Challenge for the Chest Heart and Stroke Association starting next month.

Bridie McGoldrick

AN unlikely heroine, Bridie McGoldrick beavers away relentlessly for the charity United Christian Aid - set up by her late husband Michael following the murder in 1996 of their only child also called Michael.

Seven months after Michael was shot by the UVF, his father said to Bridie: “Our child doesn’t need us any more but other children do.”

After her husband’s death in 2006 Bridie said she didn’t know what to do but believes God gave her the strength to carry on the work of the charity.

Having started out in Romania the charity moved to helping villages and families in Moldova where £10 a month can help sponsor entire families.

Her energy and enthusiasm drives hundreds to rally round, collecting clothes, blankets furniture and other goods to bring out to Moldova.

And at Christmas alone, more than £12,000 was raised in Lurgan for United Christian Aid.

“Only by the grace of God and the people who give and give again and again,” said Bridie.

Though crippled with arthritis and suffering from a heart condition, Bridie says her brain is going all the time.

When asked how much they may have raised over the years, she said: “I have never counted the money. It was never ours. It was always God’s.”

George Emerson

GEORGE Emerson is a well known business man and employer but he is regarded by many as an ‘unsung hero’ for the work he does with young people.

Wrestling a business in the current economic climate is no mean feat and George has had to downsize considerably over the past three years since the recession took hold.

However despite the dramatic downturn, George has continued with his true passion, helping young people through his work with Lurgan YMCA.

“He devotes enormous amounts of time and energy to the local YMCA simply because he has compassion for our young people and wants to bring out the best in them,” said Robert Wilson who nominated George.

The 60-year-old who took over his father’s business 30 years ago, has worked tirelessly on evenings and weekends to support the youth of the town.

He is involved with many organisations including Habitat for Humanity and CrossFire, however it is the YMCA which he enthuses most about.

He has helped raise more than £1.5 million for a new YMCA building in Carnegie Street.

“A lot of young people’s lives have changed because of this impact on their lives,” he said.