Whitehead Festival: Funds to support babies born with CHD

The final total from the town’s annual summer festival was announced this week.

This year, visitors were urged to ‘paint the town red’ in support of the festival’s nominated charity, the Northern Ireland Children’s Heartbeat Trust.

Jeremy Jones, chairman of Whitehead Community Association said: “Whitehead’s contribution to the Children’s Heartbeat Trust from the summer festival has risen to £2662.87. Adding the monies gathered from the Whitehead Golf Club charity day on Sunday August 14 of £2555 and the donations made to the club’s Captain’s Charity for the year, currently sitting at £2660, Whitehead’s contribution to the Children’s Heartbeat Trust has reached a staggering £7877.87.

“It’s a fantastic effort from the business (and church) community. Whitehead is making a difference!”

Sarah Quinlan from the Children’s Heartbeat Trust added: “Over 200 babies are born each year in Northern Ireland with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). This support will help us to make a very real difference to the lives of these children and their families.”

The final event on the festival’s programme, the Action Cancer fishing competition, took place last Monday. Casting off from Whitehead Promenade, the event saw a turnout of 46, both adults and children.

A total of £210 was raised for Action Cancer.