A DEVOTED mum is kicking off a special football fun day to raise £6,000 for the hospital that helped save her daughter’s life after she suffered a devastating brain bleed.
Little Alex Chambers was given just 45 minutes to live when she was just 18 months old but went on to fight back from a medically induced coma and a three month stay in hospital.
Now aged four years old and starting her first days at school, the Newtownards girl will be blowing the whistle for a family footie fun day on Sunday, September 13, at Bangor Football Club, from 10am-4pm.
All funds raised will be donated to the Ulster Hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Department to help buy an array of equipment, such as vein finders, for little ones.
Alex and her family are no strangers to fundraising success. Following her remarkable recovery they have raised over £20,000 for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Children’s charity Little Heroes, that threw them a lifeline of support during the most difficult of times.
Mum Nadine Chambers explained the inspiration behind their latest fundraising venture for the Dundonald Hospital.
“It was when a family member needed help at the accident and emergency in Dundonald that I remembered how much they did for Alex,” she said.
“She was initially taken to the Ulster Hospital and there was a crash team of 23 people looking after her before she was transferred to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.”
Such was the severity of Alex’s condition that Nadine explained her daughter’s case is used for training ‘as it was such a scary case of admission’.
Keen to thank the staff for their life-saving efforts, Nadine said: “We went up to the Ulster Hospital and met with one of the doctors who helped save Alex’s life and we talked about the equipment they need.”
It promises to be a fun-filled day for everyone to enjoy, bringing together both sides of the borough with a Bangor vs Ards football match just one of the games that will be taking place throughout the day.
Said Nadine: “The fun day will showcase football in a way that people will see that the sport is for everyone. We have junior teams, walking football teams, inclusion teams and everything in between.
“I want football to be showcased at its finest, so that anybody who walks through the door can see that they can play football.”
Said Nadine: “We will hosting an Ards vs Bangor match and will be showing that it doesn’t matter what side of the borough you are from, we are all here to raise money for a good cause. Bangor Football Club have kindly given us their ground for the whole day as well as two function rooms.
“The football events will all run alongside a family fun day with bouncy castles, MogNi circus performances, Laura Beacom (Belfast cup stacker) and we’ve even got Bluey and SpongeBob SquarePants coming for a visit.”
Tickets are priced £3 each and available on the day or at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995451052815?aff=oddtdtcreator. Entry is free for NHS staff.
