THREE decades of fundraising for a local cancer charity has earned two friends special recognition from none other than the Prime Minister.
Jim Gamble and Avril Graham, who are both 70, have raised a staggering £500,000 for Friends of the Cancer Centre and changed the lives of thousands of local cancer patients in the process.
The pair first started fundraising independently in 1979 to help buy a new MRI scanner specifically for cancer patients. The scanner cost £250,000 and money was raised through street and door to door collections.
Due to the success of their fundraising, they soon joined forces and have been raising money and awareness for Friends of the Cancer Centre together ever since. Recognisable faces around Enniskillen, Jim, a self-employed window cleaner and retired hospital worker Avril are now two of their longest serving fundraisers and are also both trustees of the charity.
Over the past 30 years, Jim and Avril, with the vital support of members of the Fermanagh fundraising group, have organised many activities including bag packing in supermarkets, street collections and music nights. One of the most notable events the pair have organised is their annual country and western concert, running for the past 15 years every September in the Killyhevlin Hotel.
As well as raising funds, Jim and Avril have also increased local awareness of the charity. They have worked tirelessly to ensure the whole community are aware of the great work the charity, based at Belfast City Hospital, does for patients in Fermanagh by delivering leaflets and helping to secure support from local businesses.
All of this has earned them a Points of Light Award from Prime Minister David Cameron, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community.
Jim said he was speechless when told of the award: “It means so much because it is a great boost to the charity which has been a big part of my life. We can’t do any of it on our own. Every penny raised for the charity comes from our community and we would like to dedicate and share the award with them.”
Avril said: “I was also stunned when I learned about the award but it’s all down to the generosity and support of the people of Fermanagh who over the years have been phenomenal and I can’t thank them enough. We see first-hand how our support is making a difference to the lives of local people affected by cancer. That is a real inspiration and encourages us to do even more.”
Local MP, Tom Elliot said Avril and Jim have often been described as an ‘Institution’ within the area for their fundraising work.
“They have provided much hope and support for many within the local area who are affected by cancer, when they witness the good work that Avril and Jim do to provide that help for them, even if that is in an indirect way,” he said.
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