Team 338, in memory of Armoy teenager, reach £50,000 target

Friends and relatives of Callan McErlain have become hardcore adrenaline junkies in memory of the Armoy teenager who died last year.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Aug 2014, 12:28 BST
Team 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14sTeam 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14s
Team 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14s

It’s been an action-packed year of sky-diving, dancing, hiking, running, swimming, cycling and much more to raise cash for cancer charities in the 16-year-old’s name. Callan died on June 17, 2013, just seven weeks after being diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone and soft tissue cancer. His heartbroken sister Tamara (19) set about fundraising in memory of her adrenaline-loving brother - and she roped in a few others to help. So far Tamara has jumped out of a plane and scaled Slieve Donard, as well as running, swimming and cycling to help Team 338 raise an impressive £50,000.

Raising funds under the name Team 338 was chosen by the McErlain family as this was the race number Callan, a talented motocross racer and mountain bike rider, used at events. Before his death Callan had wanted to take part in a skydive, so Tamara and the brave Team 338 crew did it for him at an event in Garvagh.

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Tamara explained: “Team 338 started up in August 2013 in memory of Callan. The original target for the year was to raise £20,000 for the two cancer charities, Friends of the Cancer Centre Belfast City hospital and Marie Curie Cancer Care. Now a year on we have smashed our target raising an astonishing £50,000 for these two fantastic charities.

Team 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14sTeam 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14s
Team 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14s

“We have had an action packed year with a variety of events including: Skydiving in Garvagh, a formal in the Marine Hotel, Ballycastle, The Dragon Boat Race, Photography weekend, Slieve Donard Climb and New Year’s Day swim.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by everyone and would like to say a special thanks to all our sponsors, fundraisers and everyone who helped in anyway.”

With that in mind, they have a new series of fresh challenges in the pipeline.

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“We have an event every weekend,” Tamara said. “We are thinking of a barn dance, going to the Ulster Rally and the Festival of Speed at Balmoral.”

Team 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14sTeam 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14s
Team 338 raised over £50,000 for two cancer charities. Pictured are Claire Hogarth, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tamara Mc Erlain and Briege Hamilton from Team 338 and Anne Mc Roberts , Marie Curie Cancer Care. inbm32-14s

In September Callan’s mother will be taking part in the Motorscape Banger Rally across Europe.

“Mummy and two of her friends will be crossing 12 countries in 10 days,” Tamara added.

Upcoming events include a barn dance, visiting the Ulster Rally and Festival of Speed at Balmoral. Callan’s mother Paula is taking part in the Motorscape Banger Rally across Europe this September. This year’s funds will be raised for Friends of the Cancer Centre and CLIC Sargent.

For more information visit facebook.com/Team338