Fionn helps raise hundreds in walk for MS charities

Fionn helps raise hundreds in walk for MS charities

9 June 2021

SCHOOLBOY Fionn McNulty has raised even more money for Multiple Sclerosis charities — with the help of a good friend.

The P7 pupil from St Joseph’s Primary School in Ballycruttle teamed up with classmate Callum Cochrane to do a 5km walk around Delamont Country Park recently.

The youngsters have raised over £1,400 in sponsorship, with more money still to come in.

Fionn has been fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis since 2015 when he only five years old. His total to date is over £8,000.

He and Callum will present the money to Queen’s University Belfast Multiple Sclerosis Research today at the school.

With the blessing of the school’s principal, Mrs Imelda Porter, and former principal, James Murphy, who is also Fionn’s grandfather, the boys will hand over money to top researcher, Dr Denise Fitzgerald.

The money would normally have gone to Action MS, which unfortunately was forced to close last October due to a lack of funds being raised during the pandemic.

Both Mr Murphy and Fionn were also saddened to learn of the death of Ann Walker, the charity’s founder, in March, a woman who greatly encouraged Fionn in his efforts.

Fionn, who is from Raholp, outside Downpatrick, explained that both he and Callum have personal reasons for want to aid research into MS.

“Myself and the pupils in St Joseph’s have supported this charity for many years,” he said.

“In the media we are seeing more and more younger people being diagnosed with MS and both myself and Callum have family members who suffer from MS. It’s a worthwhile cause close to our hearts.”

St Joseph’s has also joined Fionn with his fundraising activities over the last few years and in 2019 added a further £728, bringing the total to £2,188. 

Mrs Porter pointed out: “We are a small primary school of only 37 pupils. Fionn was joined by other classmates Oran Byrne Convery, Evie and Thomas 

Porter last year and we completed a school drive-by fundraiser to help Action MS due to lockdown.

“Fionn raised £2,525 and the other three children contributed £175, which brought the total to £2,700.”

She continued: “Myself and the staff are extremely proud of Fionn and Callum for continuing fundraising for MS after the unfortunate closure of Action MS NI, which we had supported for many years.  

“This charity has been a focus for the school for so long and we supported Fionn and Callum again this year with help from our whole school community.

“We hope this helps the research staff at Queen’s in some small way to make a difference in relation to MS here in Northern Ireland.”