Derek goes on Cannonball Run

The ‘cannonball run’ began in Donaghcloney and brought the adventurers across mountains, deserts and a 10,000 mile trek to Mongolia. Not only did they raise over £6,000 for local charity, Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, but the team also delivered a working ambulance from The Ulster Hospital to Mongolia for use in their hospitals.

With the support and sponsorship of Doran Consulting Ltd, one of the largest independent consulting engineering companies in Northern Ireland, the team raised a massive £6,000 for Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children.

Doran Consulting’s Managing Director, David Walker, gave the company’s full support to the team in their fund-raising efforts for NICFC - a charity which provides practical, emotional and financial support to children, teenagers and young adults up to 24 living with cancer in Northern Ireland.

It wasn’t all smooth driving for the team as they had to endure a lot of tricky situations along the way, ranging from fines by customs officials in France, to mechanical problems in Czech Republic, hospital stays in Hungary, hitchhikers in Lithuania, and even a spot of bribery in Bosnia.

Commenting on the adventure, team leader, Derek Gamble, said “I honestly don’t know how we made it back in one piece. I guess we relied on our friendship and the sheer generosity and kindness of people across the world. It was a phenomenal experience and I am delighted we raised such an incredible amount of money for our chosen charity”.

Lorna Watson, Regional Fundraiser for NICFC, thanked the team for their generosity, “Their support will give 120 children living with cancer the opportunity to spend a weekend at Narnia, our log cabin, helping them to rebuild their confidence and meet other children in the same situation.”