By Paul McGill from NICVA
Published on 08 Feb 2008
Kildress Plumbing Suppliers Ltd in Cookstown has taken top prize in the NICVA Link Awards 2008, organised in association with BT, after raising a huge sum of money for Action MS.
A Mid-Ulster company has taken top prize in the Charity Oscars after raising a huge sum of money for Action MS, which helps people with multiple sclerosis. Kildress Plumbing Suppliers, Drum Road, Cookstown, grabbed the overall winner spot at the NICVA Link Awards, organised in association with BT.
Company representative Des Keenan received the trophy from popular Coronation Street mechanic Tyrone Dobbs (actor Alan Halsall) at a gala dinner in Belfast to celebrate the final Link awards on their 21st birthday.
Other winners
Other winners in the NICVA Link Awards, which recognise the contribution to good causes by businesses and other organisations, were:
- Small charity: Translink, nominated by Shopmobility Belfast;
- Medium charity: LyleBailie International, for its help to Speechmatters – Part of the Stroke Association;
- Large charity: RHM Bakeries, proposed for the award by Help the Aged;
- Award for Innovation: Ulster Bank, nominated by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland;
- Award for Challenge: BC Plant JCB Ltd, which helped the Integrated Education Fund;
- Clubs and societies: Penny Black Club, recognised for its support for the NI Children’s Hospice;
- Schools and colleges: Woodlawn Primary School, for collecting for Action Cancer for many years.
Kildress Plumbing Suppliers
Des Keenan from Kildress Plumbing Supplies Lit holds the Link Overall Winner trophy, with Ann Walker from nominating charity, Action MS. Also from left are Peter Morris, BT, Bob Strong, NICVA, Minister Margaret Ritchie and Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs).
Kildress Plumbing Suppliers first raised £65,000 for a mobile holiday home specially adapted for wheelchair users. The home in Portstewart is in huge demand from MS patients.
The firm then aimed even higher with a target of collecting £100,000 for a mobile care centre and reached it thanks to huge effort by the entire staff and many local volunteers.
Des Keenan from Kildress played a major role in raising the money and persuaded other companies operating in Mid Ulster to make big contributions – Meteor, Fisher Engineering, McAleer & Rushe, LCC and McKernan Construction.
A mobile care unit will allow Action MS to extend its valuable services to places outside Belfast and other cities.
said Ann Walker from Action MS.
"Time and again we have heard from people living in rural areas of their deep frustration that all services are concentrated in Belfast.
"Fatigue is a big problem for people with MS and travelling can be very tiring and expensive if you are living on a fixed income. The mobile care centre is now bringing the much-needed services to their doorstep".
Runners up
The runners-up in each category were:
- Small charity: Anglo Beef Processors Newry, nominated by Parkinson’s Disease Society.
- Medium charity: Firmus Energy, nominated by Face Inclusion Matters.
- Large charity (two awards): Coca Cola Bottlers UK Ltd, nominated by Marie Curie Cancer Care; and First Trust Bank, nominated by NI Hospice Care, NI Children’s Hospice, Foyle Hospice and Southern Area Hospice Services.
- Award for Innovation: AES Kilroot Power Ltd, nominated by Mencap.
- Award for Challenge: Ulster Chemists’ Association, nominated by Aware Defeat Depression.
- Clubs/Societies Award: Ulster Council GAA, nominated by Ulster Cancer Foundation.
- School/Colleges Award: College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, nominated by RSPB.
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