By Q Radio news
NI's very own "Captain Tom" has successfully reached his charity fund raising target but has vowed to keep on running.
Lisburn schoolboy Tommy McKee had an initial target of £2000 in his Lenten marathon challenge for overseas development charity Trocaire.
However he has so far raised well over that amount.
Lisburn schoolboy Tommy McKee has walked, run and cycled 26 miles to help raise funds for the appeal.
His efforts come on the back of news that the UK government will match every donation made - pound for pound.
Now little Tommy has pledged to keep on going.
(Little Tommy took to the north down coast this week to raise much needed donations for overseas development charity, Trócaire)
This potentially could result in up to £2 million of extra funding at a time when the charity fears its overall income from charitable donations might be greatly reduced on the back of the Covid -19 pandemic.
Tommy's been nicknamed "Little Tom" after Captain Sir Tom Moore who raised millions of pounds for the NHS in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ‘UK Aid Match’ initiative will see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) double donations from the public in Northern Ireland during the campaign which launched last Wednesday.
This year’s appeal highlights the challenges faced by people in South Sudan who have had to flee their homes because of years of conflict.
UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, said: “Decades of conflict and the dramatic impact of climate change have had a devastating impact on communities in South Sudan.
The generous support of the public in Northern Ireland for Trócaire’s Lenten Appeal will provide vital support for families to rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient.
Donations are being doubled by the government through UK Aid Match, meaning even greater impact.”
(Lisburn boy Tommy McKee gets in some miles for his marathon challenge for Trócaire's Lenten Appeal)
HOW YOU CAN HELP TOMMY
To find out more about this year’s Lenten Appeal or to make a donation visit www.trocaire.org or call 0800 912 1200.
Alternatively log on to:
https://www.justgiving.com/
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