Maghera family turns challenging year into a year of challenges

A County Derry family has turned a challenging year into a year of challenges to raise vital funds for local charities.

The Bolton and Savage families, along with friends, organised a series of events to take place over the last number of months in memory of Thomaseen Bolton from Maghera, who passed away suddenly on March 27 2024.

Fundraisers which have taken place include a BBQ in March, a 12 hour spinathon in May and most recently a 26 mile sponsored walk from Maghera to Porstewart Harbour on August 23.

A craft and coffee evening is planned to take place on October 22 in CK's Cafe in Moneymore.

All funds raised from the events will be split equally between NI Transplant Association, Alzheimer's Society and Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI.

The chosen charities are close to Thomaseen's family's hearts as her organs were donated, as her daughter Kathryn Miller explains.

“We lost our mum to a ruptured brain aneurysm in March 2024, two weeks before her first grandson was born. As much as we, the family, at that time lost our mum, wife and friend, mum's organs were donated making a change to so many families waiting on the phone call with good news,” she said.

“We were humbled by the care that mum received in ICU in Antrim Area Hospital and the care that the amazing organ donation nurses provided mum in the last couple of days of her life. I think at this point that started myself and family thinking of how we could help others which was very much part of mum's nature. At that time money in lieu of flowers was donated to ICU to help in their department and to make the family room a little more comfortable for other families going through similar situations.”

Kathryn said she hopes their fundraising efforts will make a difference to the lives of others.

“Other family friends got together and ran a few events to raise money which some of went towards our chosen charities too,” she continued.

“Really this 26 mile walk came into play when I decided we should turn a challenging year into challenges to raise money for good. As a family we wanted to build knowledge of organ donation and that’s where we found out about the NI Transplant Association and then I felt it was important to acknowledge other charities that’s linked with other family members.

“On mum's first year anniversary we did a family and friends BBQ, and in May a 12 hour spinathon. August arrived and then the big one, a 26 mile walk to Portstewart. When I mentioned this a lot of people thought I was crazy, but I was overwhelmed with the support and the amount of people who wanted to take part. The three chosen charities touches a lot of families and the hope of being able to support these charities meant a lot to many people. We are finishing off the year with a craft and coffee evening on October.

“The support throughout these challenges has been amazing, and as a family we can’t thank every single person enough. Those who took part and donated, everyone can be happy that their efforts will make a difference to someone else’s life in memory of my mum.”

Donations to the fundraiser can be made here.