Thomas Devlin Fund News - Fundraising

Summer Wine Fair June 2007

nospam@example.com (admin) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 01:02:00 +0000

A fine selection of wines

Gap Wines - UK Off Licence of the Year 2006 - donated a proportion of the ticket price for the Summer Wine Fair in June 2007 to the Thomas Devlin Fund. The Summer Fair took place in Belfast Castle on a beautiful sunny afternoon with a wide range of fine wines to taste. Everyone who attended had a very enjoyable time tasting wine and chatting to friends

Golf 4 Ball Competition Fortwilliam Golf Club

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 +0000

George takes aim

Over 30 teams of very keen golfers took part in the very first 4 ball competition in aid of the Thomas Devlin Fund. It was a glorious day with George Jones teeing off first. The greens were in excellent condition and a lot of very high scores were achieved. The team of schoolboys from Belfast Royal Academy did well and enjoyed the competition. The highest overall score was achieved by Paddy Dobbyns's team - they won excellent first prizes. All players enjoyed their meal provided by the caterers in Fortwilliam Golf Club and a good night's entertainment was had by all. The event will be held again next year.

Continue reading "Golf 4 Ball Competition Fortwilliam Golf Club"

Table Quiz

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 +0000

A table quiz was held in the Landsdowne Hotel, Antrim Road and despite the torrential rain there was a good turnout. Everyone had a great time and the competition between the teams was very keen indeed. There were a number of tie breakers to decide the prize winners and congratulations are due to the winning teams. The spot prizes were well received and the tombola was well supported and the night was a great success. Thanks to everyone who supported the event especially the local businesses who provided the tombola prizes.

Belfast Marathon 2007

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Off and Running

A number of teams were entered for various categories in the Belfast Marathon Event as well individuals who ran the Marathon to raise money for the Fund through sponsorship. The Thomas Devlin Relay Team performed really well this year coming in at number 66 - well done to the team and carry on with the practice!! Over £2000 was raised by the walkers and runners. We are taking teams for next year!!!

Inaugural Gala Dinner October 2006

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Eamonn Holmes, Patron of the Fund

The Thomas Devlin Fund held the very first Gala Dinner to raise money for the Fund on October 20 2006 in the Europa Hotel, Belfast. Over 360 guests attended including a number of Thomas's friends. The event was also sponsored by a number of local companies who have lent their support to the aims of the Fund. Eamonn Holmes addressed the guests and outlined the aims of the Fund. The Ravara Quartet provided the music during the reception and dinner and were followed by stand up comedy acts. The Backbone Blues Band had everyone dancing until the wee small hours.
Continue reading "Inaugural Gala Dinner October 2006"

New Shield in memory of Thomas

nospam@example.com (admin) — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:42:00 +0000

Donegall Amateur Swimming Club has provided a new shield for the Boy's Captain in memory of Thomas.

The Thomas Devlin Shield was presented for the first time to Owen Mc Connell following the Club Gala on June 24 2006 which was held in the Grove Swimming Baths in Belfast. The Club Gala also raised over EUR 400 for the Thomas Devlin Fund.

Thomas learnt to swim when he joined the club at three years old. His older brother and sister also learned to swim with the club. Thomas was a good swimmer especially at back stroke and he participated in numerous galas and other swimming events. He also swam for the Boy's Brigade and won a medal for back stroke.

Donegall ASC has a learn to swim class for young children who want to learn to swim as well as a lifesaving class.

Bouncers and Music in Newry raise £500

nospam@example.com (admin) — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:38:00 +0000

An evening of comedy and music was organised by John Gallagher, a member of The Newpoint Players, with a huge amount of help from Mark Hughes of the Arts Centre, on June 8 2006 in Newry, Co Down in support of the Thomas Devlin Fund.

The Newpoint Players presented a reading of the adult comedy 'Bouncers' which was followed by music by 'The Backbone Blues Band' and '4 The Funk'. The Newpoint Players are an amateur drama group based in Newry.

The audience had a really good time and thoroughly enjoyed the reading and the music. Over £500 was raised for the fund.

A right royal walk about

nospam@example.com (admin) — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:36:00 +0000

Pupils from BRA have raised over £4000 for the Thomas Devlin Fund in their annual sponsored walk held in June 2006.

The cheque was presented to Penny and Jim, Thomas's Mum and Dad at the end of year school assembly and was gratefully acknowleged.

Pupils at Thomas's old school, Belfast Royal Academy have raised over £36000 during the past year for charity, a new record and they should be proud of their achievement.

The other charities to benefit from the sponsored walk were the Teenage Cancer Trust and a charity which was building a hospital clinic in Tanzania.

Mark becomes an Iron Man to raise over £2000

nospam@example.com (admin) — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:24:00 +0000

Mark Kalinaukas, an old friend of Penny and Jim, did the Iron Man event in Austria in July 2006.

This event involves swimming 2.5 miles in a lake, followed by cycling 112 miles and then running a full marathon. Mark managed to do all three in 15 hours and 20 minutes which is very respectable, especially as he cut his foot during the swim.

Mark has been training since last October and has run the odd marathon before! However he excelled himself with this event and we are all very impressed with his will power and tenacity. Shirley ,Mark's wife has been very patient with the training regime which involved very long cycle rides on Sundays as well as early morning runs, but it was all worthwhile for Mark'sown personal achievement and the Fund.

Mark raised over £2000 in sponsorship for the Thomas Devlin Fund.

Tray Bakes for Thomas

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 23:26:00 +0000

Ricky Matson and Linda Miller, both members of the Ulster Orchestra have donated more than £300 to the Fund by baking and selling tray bakes to fellow musicians during rehearsal breaks.

Is there a link bewtween tray bakes and musicians as Thomas played the tenor horn and was very good at making (and eating) tray bakes, especially chocolate brownies!

Thanks to those who baked and those who ate.

UNIVERSITY STAFF SUPPORT FUND

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 23:29:00 +0000

Delegates at the Annual National Conference of the AUT held in May donated over £1500 in a collection carried out in aid of the Thomas Devlin Fund.

Thomas's mum Penny Holloway was National President of the AUT in the year 1997-1998, and was a National Executive member for many years.

In addition the AUT at the University of Ulster has also made a donation to the Fund at the request of local members. Thomas's mum was a local officer for many years when she was employed by the University.

The family are delighted that the members of the AUT have remembered them in this way and their contributions have helped the Fund enormously. A number of the young people who will benefit from the Fund will go on to university to study in the creative arts and music, areas the Fund wishes to focus on and provide support for young people.

POETRY READING

nospam@example.com (admin) — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 23:28:00 +0000

Moore Dickson, Vice Principal at Belfast Royal Academy in Belfast, gave a poetry reading at school during the last week of the summer term. The poetry reading was arranged as a fund raising event for the Thomas Devlin Fund and was enjoyed by all who attended.

TRADE UNION SUPPORT

nospam@example.com (admin) — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 23:31:00 +0000

BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union) held its Annual Conference in May in Eastbourne. Jim and Penny, Thomas's Mum and Dad, were invited to address the Conference and explain the aims and objectives of the Fund.

The delegates raised over £2200 to give to the Fund which was greatly appreciated. Everyone at the Conference was sympathetic and supportive of the aims of the Fund. BECTU has pledged to continue to support the Fund in the future.

BELFAST CITY MARATHON - MONDAY 1 MAY 2006

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 23:33:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Marathon event in aid of the Thomas Devlin Fund. Everyone made it home!

The BBC relay team who were Philip;Robbie;Sam and Roger did it in 3:37:36 finishing 188th out of 1560 in the teams section.

The team of six walkers Sinead;Sharon;Kate;Maria;Cara and Fidelma also did very well despite the hailstones - they walked the whole route.

Fil and Alison walked the half marathon route and finished in good time despite the chatting.

Their efforts and the support of their sponsors raised a considerable sum for the Fund