COUSINS RAISE FUNDS FOR AIR AMBULANCE IN MEMORY OF BELOVED AUNT

OVER £2,000 was raised by four creative Newtownards girls, as the young jewellers put their beading work to good use for the Air Ambulance, all in memory of their late aunt. 

The creative cousins – 12 year olds Rebecca Shaw, twins Alexandra and Caitlin Deakin, also 12, and Rebecca’s 11 year-old sister, Kara – were hard at work at Portaferry Market over the summer and autumn months. This was done in efforts to raise money for the Air Ambulance, a favoured charity of their late aunt, Deborah ‘Debbie’ Osborough.

A well-known figure in local equestrianism as a judge, Debbie passed away suddenly due to a brain haemorrhage on December 12, 2022.

The girls had a close bond with their aunt, and they decided to put their creative beading skills to good use, by selling their wares at Portaferry Market. They attended the monthly markets from April until October last year. 

Regent House pupils Rebecca, Alexandra and Caitlin, along with Kara, who attends Victoria Primary in Newtownards,  made a total of £2,225 from their crafts; the sum will be donated to Air Ambulance NI later this month.

The girls’ grandmother,  Portaferry woman, Allison Murphy said: “My eldest daughter, their aunt, died very suddenly just over a year ago from a brain haemorrhage.

“My granddaughters were quite close to her, and after she died, they decided they wanted to do something for her memory.”

Describing Debbie’s sudden death as a traumatic time for all the family, Allison encouraged the girls when they suggested making bracelets to sell and raise money for the Air Ambulance, in their aunt’s memory. The project, Allison believes, was ‘like therapy almost for the kids’. 

The proud grandmother said: “They spent several months making all of their arts and crafts. Then I approached Portaferry Regeneration, to see if we could have a stall at the market to sell them.”

As a result of the local girls’ effort, they along with Allison have been invited to the open day for the Air Ambulance on January 27.