Derry youngster raises £11,550 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital

An inspirational Derry two-year-old has raised a massive £11,550 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital in England by inspiring his entire community to join in his fundraising efforts. Ted Curley, from Lavey, County Derry, whose life was saved by a liver transplant in May 2015, galvanised his family and friends to raise vital funds for the Liver Unit as a way to say thank you for his wonderful care. Treated at the hospital for over a month, Ted is now back at home and living a happy and healthy life with his two older brothers. Determined to give something back to the hospital, Ted’s mum Maeve turned to fundraising.

The 42-year-old mother of three said: “Ted’s diagnosis rocked our world and so we wanted to say thank you to the doctors and nurses that cared for him. If it hadn’t been for the donor as well as the hospital’s expert treatment Ted would not be here today and for that we will always be eternally grateful. “In all, Ted was treated at the hospital for five weeks. As soon as he was home with his two older brothers, Charlie (10) and Henry (6), we knew we wanted to give something back to the hospital that had made our family whole again.” It took the family just three months to raise their fantastic total, of which the biggest fundraiser was a ‘Big Breakfast’ event at the Lavey Termoneeny Centre. Other fundraising activities included a teddy bears picnic and raffle at Ted’s former nursery, Building Blocks, and a coffee morning at the Bank of Ireland in Magherafelt. Local runners also took part in the Dublin half marathon on Ted’s behalf and even the family’s doctors surgery collected funds at a flu clinic. Maeve, who still attends regular check-ups in Birmingham with her son every two months, hopes the £11,550 total will help to improve the facilities at the Liver Unit and provide the parents on the ward with ‘huggable’ chairs to make their visits more comfortable. Miranda Williams, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Ted is a testament to the amazing care and treatment that our hospital delivers every day and we are honoured that he – and his family – has chosen to give something back. “To have raised such a massive amount in such a short space of time is truly inspirational and for that we want to say thank you. The money will help make a huge difference to the lives of our brave children and families treated on our Liver Unit.” Photo shows Ted with his parents, Dara and Maeve, presenting nurses at Birmingham Children’s Hospital with a thank you cheque for £11,550.