Rugby star makes moo-ves to launch Christmas appeal

The aid organisation is calling on consumers as well as businesses to give the gift of life this festive season by providing a monetary donation to the charity in lieu of a Christmas present for their client or a loved one.

Bóthar Northern Ireland will use the funds to purchase and airlift local livestock to families in 35 developing countries across the world to help create sustainable living for local communities who cannot otherwise survive.

Commenting on the launch of the appeal, Rory said: “With Christmas approaching, we are all considering what gifts to buy for our family and friends. I’d encourage everyone to make this year’s present really special by making the gift a donation to Bóthar.

“Bóthar NI provides a wide variety of gift options to choose from. As little as £8, could buy a share of snails to help feed a poverty stricken family in Cameroon, while providing them with snail farming techniques to allow them to produce this protein source themselves.

“A share of an Irish dairy cow will cost just £30 and at the top end of appeal a donation of £3,680 will buy a Bóthar Global Village, full of livestock which will benefit 17 poor families as well as giving each of them training and veterinary support to help them lift themselves out of poverty.”

The cost of each gift includes the cost of the animal, training and preparation for the family, transportation of the animal to its new country and family as well as full veterinary back-up and in-country support for the initial two-four years. Every gift comes with a gift card to put under the tree, ready for opening on Christmas Day.

Bóthar NI’s Aoibheann Fearon said: “The developing world continues to be in constant need of our help. Making a donation to the Christmas appeal and purchasing a gift from our catalogue is very rewarding as you will make a real difference to helping lift a family out of poverty.

“Each family that receives a gift in our programme agrees to pass on the first female offspring born to their animal to another family in need. This means that it’s a gift that keeps on giving.”

The Bóthar NI Christmas Gift Catalogue is available to view online at www.bothar.co.uk . Hard copies can be requested by freephoning 0800 039 0267.

Donations can be made at www.bothar.co.uk , by telephone at 0800 039 0267, in person or by post at / to Bóthar NI, Anna House, 37a Upper Dunmurray Lane, Belfast, BT17 0AJ.