Speaking about making the donation to Self Help Africa, Alan said: “My family and friends are well aware about my love for Ulster Rugby and I told them that instead of scrumming around trying to find the perfect gift to mark my 70th birthday that I would much prefer they make a donation to charity. My wife Pauline thought that since we’re rugby fans, we should ask our friends and family to donate to the charity that Rob has just visited Uganda with. And we were overwhelmed at their generosity as we raised a wonderful total of £700.00.”
Rob Herring was appointed Self Help Africa Ambassador earlier this year and has recently returned from visiting some of the charity’s projects in Uganda. Before leaving for the Rugby World Cup in Japan Rob said: “Receiving this donation from Alan is so poignant as I can visualise where the money will be spent having recently visited Uganda with Self Help Africa. There are so many small farms managed by women who could really do with this additional help and it will help empower them as they work to build their businesses and provide for their children. I’m so grateful to Alan for encouraging his family and friends to raise this money and would like to wish him a very happy birthday on behalf of the charity and myself.”
Denny Elliott, Head of NI, Self Help Africa, added: “This is a tremendous boost to the work of Self Help Africa and I would like to thank Alan for swapping birthday presents for such a lovely and much needed gesture to Self Help Africa.”
If you would like to volunteer, find out more about the work of Self Help Africa, formerly War On Want NI, or make a donation, visit www.selfhelpafrica.org.
Self Help Africa's Northern Ireland Ambassador, Rob Herring, has received £700 for the charity from Ulster Rugby fan Alan Gallagher who swapped 70th birthday gifts from family and friends for donations to Self Help Africa. Alan is joined by his wife Pauline and daughter Judith as Head of NI for Self Help Africa, Denny Elliott, congratulates him on his milestone birthday.
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