Richhill UTV reporter Peter boosts MS fight by finishing Berlin Marathon
Peter Cardwell, fourth from left, with the committee of the Omagh MS Society. His aunt, Hazel Millar, front right, is secretary of the Omagh MS Society branch. Peter raised �5,039.25, half of which went to the Omagh branch.
RICHHILL UTV Live reporter Peter Cardwell has raised over £5,000 for the MS Society after running the Berlin Marathon and putting on a table quiz in Belfast.
The broadcaster presented a cheque for half the £5,039.25 total just before Christmas to the Omagh MS Society branch, of which is aunt is secretary.
Peter ran the 26-mile race in September in the German capital, supported by his mum, Sandra, dad, Ken and friends the broadcaster Yvette Shapiro, her husband Michael Fitzpatrick and their daughter Cara Fitzpatrick.
Unfortunately, Peter got food poisoning two days before the marathon, but continued to run the race.
A quiz he put on in the King’s Head pub in Belfast a week before the marathon raised £2,000 of the total.
“I am thrilled the generosity of my friends, family friends, colleagues and strangers has contributed to the excellent sum of £5039.25 raised for the very worthy cause of the MS Society. The Society does excellent work in Omagh, here in the Portadown area, and indeed across Northern Ireland,” said Peter.
“Multiple sclerosis is the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults and an estimated 100,000 people in the UK have MS. Around 4,000 people in Northern Ireland have MS.”
Peter’s aunt, Sheila Morrow, sadly died of MS in 2005, and another aunt, Hazel Morrow, is a tireless fundraiser for the MS Society in Omagh, where she is branch secretary. Amongst those who donated to his fundraising there were a few well-known faces, including UTV anchorman Paul Clark, Question Time host David Dimbleby and Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, the latter two former colleagues of Peter’s.
“It is because of Sheila and my aunt Hazel -- these two wonderful women -- that I ran the marathon, and put on the quiz. I am delighted that 50 per cent of my total will go towards the Omagh branch’s work in fighting MS,” said Peter.
“I am hugely grateful to everyone who donated, came to the quiz (including many from Richhill Methodist Church), sorted out raffle or quiz prizes, and came to Germany with me. It was an excellent - if slightly tiring! - experience.”
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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