Issue 4 - Coverwest magazine

Ciara Gallagher
Fundraising to fight Illnesses
Since 1995, Ciara Gallagher has been actively
working in the voluntary sector. Having started her
career as a PR and fundraising assistant at a local
charity, Ciara then spent 10 years at Mencap before
taking up her current post as the Deputy Head of
Community Fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care
in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Ciara, who is a native from Belleek, Co. Fermanagh
manages community fundraising teams to maximise
support for Marie Curie Cancer Care so that the charity
can continue to provide free specialist care and support
for cancer patients and those with other terminal
illnesses. “We have a dedicated army of fundraising
volunteers committed to the work of Marie Curie
Cancer Care right across NI including fundraising
groups in Fermanagh, Omagh, Strabane, Castlederg,
Limavady and we are aiming to set up a new fundraising
group in Derry this year,” Ciara explains.
There are many ways that people support Marie
Curie Cancer Care such as taking part in events such as
Walk Ten, abseils and marathons. Most recently Marie
Curie launched Nursing Appeal West – a fundraising
campaign to support the work of the nurses in the local
area. “Right now we’re encouraging as many people as
possible to host a Blooming Great Tea Party and raise
funds in support of the Nursing Appeal or join our
Walk Ten which takes place at the Ulster American Folk
Park in Omagh on 19th August.”
On relection of her career, Ciara believes she has
achieved things that she probably would not have even
considered had she been working in another industry.
She has completed the Great North Run and several
arduous Treks around the world including the Sahara
Desert, Great Wall of China, Nepal and Brazil to name
but a few.
Ciara’s job is a satisfying one. The best bits include
seeing people achieve personal challenges such as
running a marathon, overcoming a fear of heights,
taking part in an abseil or completing a grueling
overseas trek or bike ride.
“Achieving our fundraising targets is also pretty
satisfying! It’s simple really, the more money our
fundraising teams raise the more patients with cancer
and other terminal illnesses the Marie Curie Nurses can
care for,” Ciara says reminding us of the simple truth.
For more information about Marie Curie Cancer
Care and how you can get involved, please visit
www.mariecurie.org.uk or T: +44 (0)28 8224 9888
Charity
Heroes
feature
From Ireland’s Northwest to Africa,
COVERwest meets eight ladies dedicated to
the cause of giving back to the community and
raising awareness for those in need.