Couple raise cash to help Africans

The couple, Martin and Mary Gallagher, lost their son, Christy, aged just 23, when he contracted two deadly strains of malaria four years ago in 2006 while backpacking in Thailand.

Now they have set up a malaria fund in conjunction with the charity Children in Crossfire , which involved them staging a week-long vigil outside the Guildhall raising funds in his memory.

Martin and Mary Gallagher The Queen’s University graduate was on a backpacking holiday in Thailand when he contracted two rare strains of the deadly disease. His dad, Martin, says the trip was one the 23 year old “always wanted to do.”

Christy tragically died only two weeks before he was due to return home to his family and friends. Money raised will be used for medication and malaria nets for those in deprived countries stricken by the disease.

To raise awareness and much-needed cash, the couple began their week-long campaign on Saturday, December 18, and every day until Christmas Eve, Martin and Mary stood outside the Guildhall in the city centre from 10am until 9pm at night in memory of their son.

“We can’t do anything for Christy. We can’t help him now but we hope that by doing this we will be able to help others in his name,” said Mary, adding: “I know it might mean nothing to people here but we went through it, we know how hard it is to lose someone and there are children in Africa dying of this every day,” she said.

The week-long vigil was a huge challenge for the couple, but the couple felt it is a small price to pay knowing what the funds donated to them would save so mnay children’s lives.

“We just hoped that when people were out getting their Christmas shopping that they’ll give a wee bit of thought to these children and please help us fight malaria, which kills more people in the world than any other disease,” she said.

John Ryan of Children in Crossfire commended the couple for their outstanding humanitarian gesture in the name of their son.

“The vigil is a powerful statement by two very committed and loving parents, who have turned their tragedy into a beacon of hope literally for thousands of children in Ethiopia and Tanzania. Each year in Tanzania an estimated 60,000 people die of malaria, and of these approximately 80 percent are children under five. With the funds from Martin and Mary’s Vigil we hope to significant reduce the levels of childhood mortality in three key provinces of Tanzania.