A very special concert is to take place in Omagh in a bid to raise funds for a battling Donegal man’s road to recovery.
The Island of Ireland Peace Choir’s fundraising concert will take place in aid of The Alan Patterson Trust on Friday 31st of March at 8.15PM in the Sacred Heart Chapel, Omagh.
The event is free; however, there will be a collection box which will be in aid of The Alan Patterson Trust. Please find attached the official poster.
Although the concert is occurring in Omagh, Alan Patterson is a 27-year-old Donegal native, originating from Killygordon.
On July 30th, 2016, Alan was involved in a trampoline accident and sustained a dislocation in his neck at C5 & C6, level resulting in paralysis from the chest down.
Alan Patterson is to be released from hospital soon.
Alan spent 54 days in Intensive Care at The Royal Victoria Hospital and a further 19 days in the spinal unit before being transferred to Musgrave Park Hospital, where he is continuing his recovery. Alan is due to get out of hospital in the next few weeks. Once discharged, he will require continued intensive rehabilitation which is not offered by the NHS.
Therefore, members of Alan’s friends and family have established the Alan Patterson Trust, and through it the goal is to raise the necessary funds for the dedicated support and treatment he requires. (For more information, please see https://www.facebook.com/alanpattersontrust/)
The Island of Ireland Peace Choir was formed in the wake the Omagh bomb.
Their inspiration comes from a young woman, Claire Gallagher, who was only 15 on the day the bomb struck and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The shrapnel from the bomb that exploded in the car close to where Claire was standing was to deprive Claire of the chance of ever seeing again. She remained defiant.
Now, 17 years on, she is married to Ryan and has two lovely boys Oran and Conor and a baby girl, Cara. Their music reflects the resolve of people like Claire to make sure that human goodness triumphs in the face of adversity.
The Island of Ireland Peace Choir is open to people of all Christian persuasions and has expanded in recent years beyond Waterford and Omagh to include members from Belfast, Tullow, Carlow, Cork, Gorey and Dublin. (For more information, please see: www.islandofirelandpeacechoir.com)
All 35 choir members are travelling from all over Ireland to sing at the function in aid of Alan’s campaign.
