Charity organisers ‘touched’ by response to pyjama appeal in memory of Castledawson girl

Organisers of a Christmas charity appeal say they have been overwhelmed by the response to its appeal for pyjamas for children spending Christmas in hospital.

During the  Podcast 'Words Want Wisdom', friends Lorraine Mulgrew and Stella McGinn said people and businesses have been very generous with donations after launching the appeal on November 24.

Ms Mulgrew, who runs Diamond Slice pizza takeaway in Bellaghy, said over 150 pairs of pyjamas have been received so far with donations set to continue up until December 15.

She said: “It's went very well, far, and wide from the North to the South to England. I’m overwhelmed. I’m touched.

“I’m so grateful for everything that has been donated knowing that it’s going to a good cause, going directly to hospitals.”

The appeal was set up in memory of Ms McGinn’s daughter, Caitlin-Rose McMullan (pictured below), who was killed in March after being hit by a car getting off a school bus near Castledawson.

Donations are going directly to the children’s ward in The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast where Caitlin-Rose received care.

But due to the large number of donations received Ms Mulgrew believes donations can now be provided to additional hospitals across the country.

She said: “I would say now its just not going to be The Royal. We’ll spread the whole thing out throughout the hospitals throughout.”

The Royal Victoria Hospital relies on pyjama donations for its young patients.

But during Caitlin-Rose’s stay there was very little donations so Ms Mulgrew felt inspired to launch the appeal and use her business Diamond Slice in Bellaghy as a donation point.

During the episode Ms McGinn said it’s important to provide small comforts to children and families in need.

“For people to make that last decision of when they’re leaving a room what they want to put their daughter in or son in or even kids that are lying in hospital that are sick," she said.

“Why not give them something that’s going to bring slight joy to their life.”

She continued saying the response to the appeal has made her very ‘proud’.

“Everybody around the world that’s actually coming together to do something for other children.

“I think she would have been proud. And that makes me proud,” she said.

Ms McGinn previously launched the Bus Safety campaign to ban drivers from overtaking school buses which have stopped while picking up or dropping off passengers.

“Caitlin was my only daughter and to lose your only daughter to a country that has zero policy put in place for school buses," she continued.

“How many children travel to and from school everyday? And there’s nothing put in place for the safety of those children."

She believes more safety measures should be in place in rural areas including designated bus shelters and stop signs or warnings lights to warn drivers of children boarding or disembarking school buses.

She said: “Kids are getting killed in rural areas and that’s the big thing I’m trying to get out there.

“What risk assessments are put in place to get a kid to and from school safely? At the minute I don’t see any.”

Ms McGinn hopes a new safety campaign will prevent anymore children from being killed by buses.

You can help by donating new pyjamas (sizes up to age 16) or by contributing towards the cost.

Drop off-points for the pyjama appeal in memory of Caitlin-Rose McMullan are in the following locations – Fullan’s in Portglenone, Diamond Slice in Bellaghy, Toome Pharmacy, Lavey Shop, Drumsurn GAC, Chic N Cut in Bellaghy, St Colm’s GAC in Drum, Ballinascreen GAC and Nora & Katie in Dungiven.