A Gala Ball organised last month by NJC Member Gareth Tinnelly of John Tinnelly & Sons Ltd, has raised a grand total of £67,704 to support the work of the Southern Area Hospice Service.

The event, hosted in the Carrickdale Hotel, saw 400 people gather to celebrateand remember their father Patsy Tinnelly and to raise much needed funds for a charity that was very close to his heart.

Daughter, and Director of John Tinnelly & Sons Ltd Joanne Campbell said: “As a family we are extremely proud of all his achievements and we wanted to celebrate his life by supporting a charity that was very close to his heart. Everyone involved has been so generous – from the people who attended the event, to the companies who donated prizes and valuable raffle items, the hotel staff, our own staff and extended family. We are sincerely grateful to them all for making the night and the total raised, so remarkable. Daddy would have been so proud to see us deliver this cheque to the Hospice.”

Speaking on behalf of Southern Area Hospice Services, Majella Gollogly, Fundraising Manager said

“We are delighted to receive this money on behalf of the Southern Area Hospice. This donation from the Tinnelly family in memory of their father Patsy will be used to provide specialist palliative care for people across the Southern Health Trust region suffering from cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease and AIDS. During his lifetime Patsy did so much fundraising for the hospice and it is a very fitting tribute to his memory.

Southern Area Hospice cares for almost 1,000 patients annually in the Southern Health Trust Area.

· Services include an Inpatient Unit & Day Hospice Units in Newry and Dungannon, Outpatient Clinics, a Palliative Care Team, a Homecare Nurse, Bereavement Support and Counselling Services.

The Fundraising Department has to raise £2.5 million in 2017.

For more information about the services provided by our local Hospice visit www.southernareahospiceservices.org

On behalf of the Newry Junior Chamber, we would like to express our congratulations to the Tinnelly family for organising such a wonderful event in memory of their father, Patsy.