By Julie Waters
OVER 120 golfers joined little Alex Chambers for her final charity challenge at Scrabo Golf Club, setting her on course to exceed her £16,000 fundraising total from last year.
Starting in June, this intrepid Newtownards youngster walked the distance of the club’s first nine holes over the next three months, as she raised vital funds for the Little Heroes charity.
What makes Alex’s latest fundraising feat so remarkable is the youngster was given just 45 minutes to live when she suffered a brain haemorrhage when she was just 18 months old.
Following her remarkable recovery, Alex and her family have raised thousands of pounds for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children’s charity, which threw them a lifeline of support during their darkest hours.
In her latest challenge, Alex has managed to walk a total of 34,652 steps, and her final tee off from the ninth hole coincided with Captain Ross Moore’s charity day at the club last weekend.
Alex enjoyed completing her walking challenge both on the golf course, out with friends and even at The Open, in Portrush, where she was the R&A’s guest of honour and met executive director Johnnie Cole-Hamilton.
The youngster was also thrilled to be joined by home-grown Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, Mayor Gillan McCollum and budding young actor Alfie Lawless for last weekend’s charity fun day.
Her mum Nadine, thanked everyone for their ongoing support saying: “Not only did over 120 golfers tee off on the charity day, but we also incorporated a family fun day, complete with free sessions from the amazing Drama Tots, face painting, soft play, golfing and crafting.
“We also managed to hold an auction led by Alfie Lawless, who recently starred in the second season of Blue Lights, and our night was danced away to the amazing sounds of The Reckless, who also donated their time for this fundraiser.”
Said Nadine: “We were truly honoured that Rhys McClenaghan attended the charity day with not just amazing prizes for the auction, but with a genuine care and compassion for Little Heroes and the work they do.
“We were also so grateful that our Mayor and amazing supporter Gillian McCollum attended. We can’t begin to thank club captain Ross Moore and his wife Lorraine Moore, a past lady captain, for their unwavering support.”
Nadine also praised the support they had received from the wider Newtownards community. “There have been tea parties, quizzes and charity football matches and they’ve all been arranged to support this fundraiser. We couldn’t be prouder to call Newtownards our home.
“It’s not just a place but a community of people who have stood side by side with us, embraced this cause with open hearts and made it possible to raise so much together.”
She explained Alex will have one more golfing adventure before she undertakes her next challenge – starting nursery school.
“We won’t be ending this latest fundraiser until after September 10, when we get back from The Irish Open which Alex has also been invited to attend,” said Nadine.
“This will be exactly one week before Alex takes her next adventure, her first day of nursery, something we never imagined would be possible if it wasn’t for the incredible team at the RVH For Sick Children.
“That’s why we are truly dedicated to raising what we can for Little Heroes. Our aim was to meet and if possible beat the £16,000 we raised last year. We have not yet got a final count, but we are 100% confident that we have beaten it.”
After meeting Alex on the ninth tee, Mayor McCollum said: “Alex and her parents, Nadine and Ryan, have raised thousands of pounds for Little Heroes, a brilliant charity that supports the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
“It is a truly amazing achievement, and I am just in awe of Alex and everything she has done to meet her golfing challenge. She’s such a little hero.
“The last day was a fantastic celebration with lots of family-friendly activities, and it was great to see the whole community and golf club behind little Alex. I was delighted to see our home-grown Ards Olympic hero, Rhys McClenaghan, there with his medal.
“The Chambers family are so close to meeting their fundraising target, and if you could help them out on their donation page, I know they would be so grateful. They have been through so much and are so compassionate about this cause.” To make a donation please log on to: – www.alexandcrew.co.uk
