Oliver Appeal tops £11,000

SUPPORT. Mum Charlene with her son Oliver, pictured along with Jennifer and Colin Bond of Bond Jewellers, staff members Lyndsay Bond and Lynsey Nicholl and MLA Gregory Campbell on Friday.CR4-112SC.

The five-year-old MIllburn Primary School pupil has a type of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia. This means that Oliver can experience a lot of pain in his legs and he is unable to walk.

In a bid to give their son some independent, Oliver’s parents Charlene and Neill have launched an appeal to raise £60,000 to enable their little son to have life changing surgery in America.

By coincidence, MP for East Londonderry, Gregory Campbell, met Oliver’s mother Charlene during door to door visits in the Coleraine area last week.

After hearing about Oliver’s condition, the MP contacted the Department of Health to find out if there is any possibility the Coleraine youngster could have treatment in the United Kingdom.

“I was really touched when I read about Oliver in the local press, then on my door to door rounds I spoke to Oliver’s mother Charlene.

“I have since made representations to the Department of Health.

“I don’t want to raise hopes, but I just want to make sure that all options for Oliver have been explored here in the UK.

“Oliver is a great wee boy.

“I know he has an extremely rare condition, but I want to make sure that all possible procedures have been explored. I am hoping to hear back from the Department within the next ten days.”

Speaking about the community input into little Oliver’s appeal, the DUP MP went on: “I know we are only a few weeks into the appeal and already the whole community has got behind Oliver and his family. “Everyone is rallying around to do what they can to raise money for this little man.”

On Friday, Oliver and his mother Charlene were invited to Bond’s Jewellers in Coleraine who will be sponsoring a major fundraiser for his appeal next month.

Headed by local man Willie Gregg, the fundraiser in the Railway Arms will take the form of a quiz night, with prizes being donated by the Coleraine jewellers.

“The date is Friday, February 28, there will also be an auction on the night,” explained Willie Gregg. “It’ll be the first main big fundraiser for the appeal, and I am really looking forward to it. I have some great auction items already.”

Other fundraisers for the ‘Help Wee Oliver Walk’ Appeal this week include bucket collections during the Pantomime and bag packing at BM Stores.

Joey’s Bar in Ballymoney will be holding a Night at the Races on Friday, January 31.