Giving to mothers who give to others: Dromara mums are recognised for community volunteering efforts ahead of Mother’s Day this Sunday.
Teams from local retailer SPAR NI have been travelling across Northern Ireland to honour the ‘mothers who give to others’ ahead of Mother’s Day this Sunday.
Irene Hunter and Mary McConnell are two of four mums who have been recognised for all they do for others.
Irene Hunter has been working at EUROSPAR Dromara for 18 years and is the elected community representative for the store.
She has been integral in the millions of pounds retailers have raised for Cancer Fund for Children since the partnership began in 2011, including recently taking on Ireland’s longest zipline!
Helping others is embedded in Irene’s life, and outside work, she regularly fundraises for PIPS, Alzheimer’s Society and NI Chest Heart and Stroke.
Mary McConnell, a part-time primary school teacher, has been a volunteer at Cancer Fund for Children’s Daisy Lodge for over seven years.
Mary brings her former hairdressing skills to the respite centre to offer residents hair treatments in the therapy and spa areas.
Kathy Loughridge from Belfast and Tracey Maea from Newtownards were also surprised by SPAR NI representatives who presented them with a hamper of gifts, SPAR vouchers and flowers to say a huge thank you for all they do in their local communities.
Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group who own SPAR in Northern Ireland said these women are just a cross section of the incredible working mums who give up so much of their time to others.
Bronagh said: “This Mother’s Day, we wanted to honour just a handful of the incredible women doing incredible things in their local communities, while also looking after their own families and the multiple things they have to juggle in their own lives!
“Our teams have really enjoyed getting out and surprising Irene as well as Mary, Kathy and Tracey who rarely put themselves first, so we were delighted to give them the recognition they deserve.
“SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores are nestled within every town and village across Northern Ireland, where community is at the heart of everything they do.
“Not only are we supplying everyday essentials for families, but our stores and their teams are supporting local foodbanks, charitable organisations, schools and church groups to ensure everyone has somewhere to go, someone to talk to and can thrive.
“This community engagement is more important now than it has ever been.”
To view each incredible mother who gives to others be surprised with their gifts, check out SPAR NI’s on:
