News
Bright Belfast Met student raises £1,250 for Northern Ireland Hospice
Published: 5 October 2021
21-year-old Darragh Armstrong, from Newtownabbey, has donated £1,250 to Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice after a major fundraising drive for the charity.
The kind-hearted and innovative student, who is currently completing a Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT at Belfast Met, first started fundraising for the Children’s Hospice in 2019, whilst completing his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business.
Over a six-week period, Darragh and his fellow classmates collectively raised £3,200 for the Hospice through collections at local Tesco stores, and a ‘Jingle Jumper-thon’ which seen over 100 Belfast Met students and staff, from across all its campuses, including Millfield, Titanic Quarter, Castlereagh and Springvale, don their festive jumpers at the Titanic Quarter campus in support of Children’s Hospice Christmas fundraising campaign, Jingle All the Way.
The Newtownabbey student was inspired to continue fundraising for the Children’s Hospice and has since went on to organise a ‘Festive Furry Fundraiser’, an online fundraiser encouraging people to share pictures of their pets in festive-themed outfits and has even encouraged his two best friends to take a leap of faith by signing up to a charity skydive next month in support of the Hospice. Darragh plans to continue fundraising for the Hospice in the coming months.
Commenting on his fundraising efforts, Michele McMaster, Business School Enterprise and Business Services Associate Lecturer at Belfast Met, added: “On behalf of the College I would like to congratulate Darragh. We are all extremely proud of what Darragh has been able to achieve which will make a big difference to many people. Darragh and his peers worked very hard to fundraise for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice for much-needed resources and to raise awareness of the charity.”
“Innovation and Enterprise was an integral part of Darragh’s additionality programme, and his course gives students valuable skills in all areas of Business, enabling them to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses.”
Darragh said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be handing over a cheque for £1,250 to the Children’s Hospice. After hearing first-hand from their Regional Fundraiser about the incredible and unique work that the Hospice does, I was motivated to help in some way. The charity has had an exceptionally difficult 18 months with Covid, and I would encourage anyone to fundraise and help support this wonderful cause.”