Rowing event for cancer charity

6 August 2025

A CROSSGAR mum is raising money for a children’s cancer charity close to her heart with the help of a local rowing club.

Christine McCann is working with Ardglass Coastal Rowing Club to host a 250km rowing challenge and family fun day on Saturday, September 6, to raise funds for Angel Wishes, which is run by Gaye Kerr.

The charity has been a great support to Christine and her six-year-old son Logan, who will ring the bell this October after three-and-a-half years of chemotherapy treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia which he was diagnosed with when he was just three.

Angel Wishes was set up in 2016 in memory of two of Gaye’s children, Helen (3) and Brian (10), who both sadly passed away with cancer-related conditions.

The charity supports children throughout Northern Ireland with all proceeds raised through fundraising and donations going directly into supporting families.

“The charity send all newly diagnosed families a lump sum to help relieve some of the financial pressures they find themselves in,” Christine said. “Angel Wishes helps children to smile again.”

The fundraising challenge taking place next month will include a number of coastal rowers from various clubs in Co Down which will be competing against one another in 12km races from Ardglass to St John’s Point Lighthouse.

“There will be bouncy castles, face painting, music, a barbecue, cake sale and a raffle on the day to raise money,” Christine said.

“We’ll have junior, mixed, men’s and women’s categories and medals for 1st place.”

She continued: “Everyone is welcome. I work in a primary school in Ardglass so I will be encouraging the children to come along.”

Christine has created a JustGiving page and hopes to raise £5000 for the charity.

“I started the page a few months ago. I’ve raised about half of my goal so far,” she said.

You can donate to Christine’s JustGiving page at

https://www.justgiving.com/page/christine-mccann-1?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=EM.

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