Mourne Motorcycle Club Donates To Charities

Local MX bikers in Mourne Motorcycle Club make donations to two charities

The members of the Mourne Motorcycle Club (MMC) have continued their charitable work, raising £6,000 to be shared between two local charities.

The Mourne club held their latest event at Millbridge, Ballynahinch on June 19 to raise monies for the Dromore-based charity Via Wings and the Friends of the Cancer Centre.

The first event was held in 2007 and in 14 years of running the event the Mourne club has now raised almost £100,000 for 27 charitable causes that have touched the lives of club members, or the local community.

Speaking after the latest charity fundraising event Mourne Motorcycle Club Chairman Billy McLarnin said: “Motocross may be seen as one of the smaller sports on offer here, but the people involved have shown again their generosity and support for the local community.

“It is incredible for us to have raised so much, for so many worthy causes through the years.

“Every year the event offers riders something different and it brings out plenty of people, spectators and riders, that we might not see at another motocross event during the year.

“This year we also received kind sponsorship from Andrew McKee at Start Solar in Lisburn and Keith Cullen at Country Fried Chicken in Ballynahinch, who has been supporting the club since our first charity event in 2007.

“I would like to thank everyone who takes part and comes to watch, along with the dedicated club members, local businesses and of course the charities for all of their help in making this such a success,” he said.

On receiving the cheque, Emma Harrison, Communications Co-Ordinator for Via Wings said: “So many people today can struggle daily for a variety of reasons and every penny that we earn is vital to the services that we offer the local community.

“We try to offer a full range of services, which includes a foodstore project, counselling services, children’s play therapy, a wellbeing centre offering various classses, a development programme for young adults with additional needs, lunch and activities for the elderly and those feeling isolated and a preloved clothing shop.

“Like a lot of charities, all of the funding pots that were available to us are so limited, so this donation is really important to us.

For 38 years Friends of the Cancer Centre has been dedicated to making a real and meaningful difference to cancer patients and their families across Northern Ireland.

The charity works to enhance the quality of patient care and support through its life-changing and life-saving work which includes funding additional nurses, supporting local research and providing practical support, such as financial grants, which can help patients through a difficult time.

Friends of the Cancer Centre relies entirely on the generosity of the local community and all money donated stays in Northern Ireland, directly benefitting patients and their families.

This year they were chosen by the family of lifelong Mourne club member Jimmy Green, following his sad passing from cancer.

Community Fundraising Officer for Friends of the Cancer Centre, Sarah Wilson, said: “The Mourne Motorcycle Club are fantastic supporters and they’ve done exceptionally well in raising so much money for Friends of the Cancer Centre.

“I’d like to thank them for organising such a successful event last month and Jimmy’s family for nominating us as a beneficiary this year.

“The money raised will make a very big difference to the lives of patients and their families across Northern Ireland,” she said.

Friends of the Cancer Centre

Back row (l-r) – Norman Green, William Green, Nathan Green and Sophia Green.
Front row (l-r) – Billy McLarnin, Cilla Green and Sarah Wilson

Via Wings

Back row (l-r) – Mourne club members George Porter, Junior Burrows and Andrew Shields.

Front row (l-r) – Emma Harrison and Jennifer Toole from Via Wings, with Billy McLarnin.