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"Through a pandemic we have raised £41K. I think that speaks volumes of the people of Newry" So says Drumalane man Ernie Campbell, who has championed a fundraising campaign along with friend Councillor Gavin Malone and many others, which to date has raised over £41,000!
Funds from the fundraiser have been used to purchase vital personal protection equipment (PPE) supplies for Daisy Hill Hospital, Craigavon Hospital, people working in Homes and home care workers, during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic locally.
The idea was hatched on the 25th of March and within 24 hours a thousand pound had been donated.
Shortages
Explaining how it started Ernie from Drumalane said "I had £700 left from Help the Homeless in Dublin from last year. We got wind that Daisy Hill were short of sanitiser so we went up to the Maternity Suite and delivered sanitiser."
"We found out through the rest of the staff in Daisy Hill that there was very little masks, gloves, sanitiser so I asked Gavin, do you fancy doing a fundraiser with me. The two of us were always meant to do one together because we have that many contacts between the two of us and we said we would always do a big one, so the two of us started this and we thought we would hit about two and a half thousand, and the rest is history. The donations kept coming from America, Australia, England, everywhere."
Money was raised as a matter of urgency for core items including masks, gloves, visors and hand sanitiser. Commenting on the fundraiser Councillor Gavin Malone said "Ernie has been working 24/7 and has really been the driving force. Ernie would maybe say to us for example, could you deliver this here or could you pick up that there but the bulk has been done by Ernie. He's an amazing guy"
At one stage there was about 20 people making scrubs and Ernie believes in total there was a total team of 100 behind them working on the fundraiser.
Riser
Tony Smith of 'Riser' fame was also heavily involved in the project, fundraising, collecting and distributing donations and publicising the campaign every step of the way. Cllr Malone added "He's been brilliant, he's been very proactive"
On sourcing the PPE equipment Cllr Malone credits Ernie "Ernie was the key to that, Ernie had all the contacts through people he knew and they were able to guide him to people they would have known. Ernie has travelled the country from Carrickfergus to Crossmaglen to Belfast, to Banbridge, Portadown, Craigavon - he's been everywhere"
People In Need
Fighting an addiction around seven years ago spurred Ernie Campbell to get involved in a group called People in Need who work with the homeless in Dublin. The group go to Dublin every Friday night and Ernie went along one night and couldn't believe how bad it was and that's where the interest in charity work started.
"I've been in and out of mental institutions, I'm on heavy levels of anti-depressants and this here is what helps me, to be able to help people that don't have a voice, with the homeless, or helping people in a hospital who unfortunately can't talk out, can't speak because they might lose their jobs. It's this that keeps me going. It's knowing that we're keeping people safe."
Humbling
Explaining why he got involved himself Cllr Malone says his mandate as a councillor is to be proactive in his community "I do it because I'm an elected representative and people give me a mandate to be proactive within the community. It's very humbling to be elected. It's very important that you give all you have for the time you are a councillor, do as much for as many and try your best."
Thanks
The Newry City Councillor feels there are so many people and organisations stepping up and doing exceptional work around Newry during the Coronavirus crisis "I think there are so many people within the community working hard. We must recognise and acknowledge all their efforts. We have 9 Community Associations in the area and they are all working their socks of. We have PIN we have Stella Maguire and Tommy Jones. We have The Hub going, all the volunteers from all walks of life and groups helping to deliver packages and food to vulnerable people. There are so many people, you could stand here all day and name people"
"Malachy Maguire, P.J. Murphy, Kieran Donaghy, Jordan Poucher. "There's been a lot of people behind the scenes, it's been fantastic. We have seen this throughout the district through Community Associations being very proactive in their own areas, it's really brilliant"
Cllr Malone also sees the great work down by council, the local DEA and Kerri Morrow in particular. "Kerri is very effective, very efficient and very helpful. There are so many people behind the scenes, Lorraine Morgan from the council. I'd like to thank council management. I'd also like to thank all our local councillors who have been brilliant. They are all very dedicated people, they are fantastic within our community. Great people"
Ernie who also has delivered food parcels to the vulnerable along with many others agrees and is humbled by the community spirit "The way the community has come behind me and Gavin. The backing they have gave us is unbelievable. There's people who are losing their jobs, people losing their lives and people are still donating, whether that be a fiver, tenner or twenty pound.
"I just want to thank every single person that has either donated or gave their time up. NHS staff, staff in the care homes, carers in the community. At the end of the day its they that are on the front line, not us. All we are trying to do is try to keep them safe. Its them that deserve all the plaudits."
Milk Tray
As well as his involvement in the PPE fundraiser Cllr Malone has also been busy thanking local people in shops for their work during this extraordinary time and bringing a bit of cheer to older folk that haven't been able to get out and about on their special occasions due to the lockdown . With his trademark box of Milk Tray in hand Gavin has been a welcome caller to many doors.
When asked where he gets his energy Cllr Malone, a full time worker in Teleperformance quips that a couple of tins of Red Bull every day keep him going, that along with an hours walk every day "I think all councillors work very hard. There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes with all councillors from Housing Executive issues to getting a tree cut somewhere"
Oh and do the family ever see him? "No! They call me the Scarlet Pimpernel, they can never find me" he adds.
In conclusion Cllr Malone feels the current crisis has brought us a bit closer "I'm pleased that everyone has really stepped up to the mark. We have all come together. It's wonderful, even with community clean ups, the crack is great. It takes us down memory lane, the way it was years ago I think and people have become a wee bit closer together, and that's what we need in this challenging difficult time, but we'll ride the storm and we will get through it and we will be better people hopefully for it."
