Ballyclare girl’s ‘ice bucket challenge’ raises £500 for charity

Grace McGuigan (10) took part in the fundraising effort on January 1 to support a charity which has helped her own family for decades.

The generous Ballyclare Primary School pupil had hoped to participate in the 2021 New Year’s Day swim at Carnlough in aid of the worthy cause, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the annual event was cancelled.

To replace the swim event, people were asked to take on the ice bucket challenge- when a bucket of freezing cold water/ice is poured over their head.

Speaking to the Times, Grace’s mum Michelle said: “My mum is the vice chairperson of the Ballymena branch of the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

“We’ve supported this charity for over 40 years as my brother has both Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and my nephew has Hydrocephalus.

“The charity helped my mum from when Gary was born, offering advice when no-one else really knew what he had wrong with him. They had a clinic in Ballymena where Gary went every day to get physio and this helped him be able to walk, talk and do everything doctors said he wouldn’t be able to do.

“It’s a very small charity, but it has supported so many folk over the years. If you would like to sponsor Grace, please send it through PayPal [email protected]

“Thank you to everyone who has supported the charity effort so far. We will be presenting the money to the association at the end of the month.”

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