Dromara girl set to conquer the Great Wall of China

Nursing student Claire Hanna was recently recognised with the Princess Diana Award for all her fund-raising efforts for Cancer Fund for Children.

Claire (19) is heading east in September to trek 45km of the Great Wall to raise money for the charity.

This is the latest in a long list of fund-raising events Claire has held for the charity, since the death of her close friend and class mate Briagh Hull to a brain tumour in 2011.

Claire has passionately promoted the work of the charity during her time as a Wallace High pupil, organising several ‘socials’, coffee mornings, bun sales, abseiling and jewellery making.

On her 16th birthday Claire completed an adrenaline filled sky dive in aid of the fund.

She said: “I’m one for doing certain things impulsively, usually these sorts of fund-raisers took place in June but I got my timetable for university and I am not back until the end of September so I decided to go for it.

“It’s all very exciting I can’t believe that I have decided to go. I decided to and then told my parents that I’m off to China.

“To prepare for it, I am just going to go for Slieve Donard! I plan to climb it, the first thing people ask me is did I take part in Duke of Edinburgh. I never did so this is a different sort of challenge.

“I have to raise a minimum of £1500 but would like to get a bit more than that.

“This is the first big fund-raising challenge I have taken since leaving school so it is going to be difficult now that I now longer have help from people in school. I have a number of fund-raising events planned, raffles, coffee mornings and hopefully a sponsored cycle.”

Speaking about the charity, Claire added: “The Cancer Fund for Children is an absolutely fantastic charity and I can not begin to describe how much of an amazing impact they make on the lives of children and their families in Northern Ireland.”

The Diana Award is “awarded to courageous, caring, compassionate young people, transforming the lives of others in the name of Diana, Princess of Wales.”

Claire was nominated by the school for the Champion Fund-raiser category and a supporting reference was provided by Rebecca Oates of local charity Cancer Fund for Children. To donate for the very worth cause, Claire has set up a Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fund-raising/Claire-Hanna3