RED CROSS CHALLENGE WALK REACHES OMAGH FINALE
Red Cross Challenge Walk reaches Omagh finale
BRITISH Red Cross chairman, Professor John McClure, made a special delivery at Omagh Council Offices recently.
Mr. Barry McElduff, chairman of Omagh District Council, received a Red Cross parcel to celebrate the finale of Mr. McClure's daunting Challenge Walk.
Omagh was the final destination of the Omagh native's walk, which started in Manchester.
While in Northern Ireland Professor McClure walked through Belfast, Lisburn, Lurgan, Craigavon, Portadown, Armagh, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Strabane and Deny, visiting people and places where Red Cross is active in Northern Ireland, raising the profile of the charity and funds for Red Cross services.
On his way, he called into district council offices and presented each mayor or chairman of the council with a special Red Cross parcel. Accompanying him on his last leg of the walk were leading members of the Spanish Red Cross, and the Czech ambassador to Great Britain.
The reception in Omagh District Council offices was one of the highlights of the walk.
Red Cross is internationally respected for its expertise in managing major disasters through providing immediate relief and longer term psychological and social care.
In the future, the charity hopes to set up new initiatives in Northern Ireland, drawing on the expertise of other national societies in the treatment of trauma, and building on the experience gained through its involvement in helping victims and relations in the aftermath of the bomb.
Said the walker: "As an Omagh man myself, and now as the chair of the largest humanitarian organisation in the UK, I felt it was appropriate to support the charity's work on my home ground. Most people know Red Cross for its international work, giving humanitarian support to those affected by conflict and natural disaster around the world, but here in Northern Ireland, Red Cross is just as active.
"I am proud to be associated with Red Cross volunteers who help people cope with their individual crisis every day, as well as being prepared to respond to emergencies such as the Omagh bombing. Through this walk, I hope to raise funds to support existing Red Cross services and develop new services which will make a difference to people's lives every day," he concluded.
BRITISH Red Cross chairman, Professor John McClure, made a special delivery at Omagh Council Offices recently.
Mr. Barry McElduff, chairman of Omagh District Council, received a Red Cross parcel to celebrate the finale of Mr. McClure's daunting Challenge Walk.
Omagh was the final destination of the Omagh native's walk, which started in Manchester.
While in Northern Ireland Professor McClure walked through Belfast, Lisburn, Lurgan, Craigavon, Portadown, Armagh, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Strabane and Deny, visiting people and places where Red Cross is active in Northern Ireland, raising the profile of the charity and funds for Red Cross services.
On his way, he called into district council offices and presented each mayor or chairman of the council with a special Red Cross parcel. Accompanying him on his last leg of the walk were leading members of the Spanish Red Cross, and the Czech ambassador to Great Britain.
The reception in Omagh District Council offices was one of the highlights of the walk.
Red Cross is internationally respected for its expertise in managing major disasters through providing immediate relief and longer term psychological and social care.
In the future, the charity hopes to set up new initiatives in Northern Ireland, drawing on the expertise of other national societies in the treatment of trauma, and building on the experience gained through its involvement in helping victims and relations in the aftermath of the bomb.
Said the walker: "As an Omagh man myself, and now as the chair of the largest humanitarian organisation in the UK, I felt it was appropriate to support the charity's work on my home ground. Most people know Red Cross for its international work, giving humanitarian support to those affected by conflict and natural disaster around the world, but here in Northern Ireland, Red Cross is just as active.
"I am proud to be associated with Red Cross volunteers who help people cope with their individual crisis every day, as well as being prepared to respond to emergencies such as the Omagh bombing. Through this walk, I hope to raise funds to support existing Red Cross services and develop new services which will make a difference to people's lives every day," he concluded.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0938
Published Date: 04-Oct-01
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