Bellaghy family raise funds for Air Ambulance in memory of grandson

Bernard and Margaret McKenna pictured with one of the cheques they presented to Air Ambulance NI.

placeholder image — Bernard and Margaret McKenna pictured with one of the cheques they presented to Air Ambulance NI.

The family of a young boy from County Derry, who died tragically last year, have raised funds for Air Ambulance NI in his memory.

Bernard McKenna, from Bellaghy, recently presented three cheques totalling £6,575, to the charity that operates a helicopter emergency medical service dedicated to responding to serious trauma and medical emergencies across the North.

The south Derry man raised the money, thanks to the help of three local groups, following the tragic death of his six year-old grandson Ethan McCourt (pictured).

The popular schoolboy was involved in a crash at the Castledawson roundabout on June 20 2022 and sadly died in hospital five days later.

His tragic death left the community of Bellaghy shocked and at the time Monsignor Andrew Dolan described Ethan as a boy who was 'just so full of fun'.

Bernard said he decided to raise the money for the Air Ambulance as they provided assistance at the scene of the collision.

“The Air Ambulance doctor got Ethan's heart started again after it had been stopped for eight minutes. This was early on Monday 20th June and it meant that we got some time to spend with him until Saturday 25th when he went to join the angels in heaven,” said Bernard.

“Before Ethan passed away, the Organ Donation team came over from Edinburgh and that evening we knew of at least six people that were going to benefit from our loss and this would not have been possible if the Air Ambulance was not here.”

Bernard is involved with the Off The Cuff Community Theatre Group and just before Christmas 2022 they performed the play 'The West Clare Railway' with proceeds going towards his fundraiser. In total £1,700 was raised through the popular drama group.

A second donation of £275 was raised by a few close friends and the Headway Group in Ballymena, which Bernard, a survivor of a fall from a roof 11 years ago, attends regularly.

The third donation of £4,600 came from a charity donation from the pubs of Magherafelt and District which Bernard was also a member of.

“Air Ambulance is a very important charity organisation and needs our support because no person knows who will need them next,” added Bernard.