UH/1154

White ribbons help raise funds

A LOCAL MOTHER, so moved by the aftermath of the Omagh Bombing, decided she had to do something to promote peace and dispel the horror which had infiltrated the town.
So she quietly sat down in her Clontarf Heights home in Omagh and began making dozens of white peace bows to raise funds for the Special Memorial Fund set up after the atrocity.
Rita McCullagh, an assistant leader with Culmore Playgroup and mother of three children aged from nine years old to 15, spent an evening making her symbolic satin bows, which she sold to parents at the playgroup. She intended making just 50 bows but was to discover so many other people wanted to support her venture. The demand for her bows soared , to approximately 80.
And when Rita called into our office to extend thanks to the people who supported the venture, she was proudly wearing her little white satin bow.
"Parents and staff at the playgroup quickly bought the peace bows without any hesitation" she said with a sense of pride.
"I would like to thank them and also the staff of Treehouse Kinder garden and the residents of Clontarf Drive who also bought the bows" said Rita.
Rita, who has close connections with Treehouse where she is a Montessori teacher, raised £142.50 for the Fund and lodged the money on Tuesday in the special fund account.