Adam plans to raise £10,000 for local charity

But Adam Kerr, is trying to cope by helping others and setting himself a goal to raise £10,000 for a children’s charity that helped the family through a difficult period of their lives.

Adam’s sister Helen died in 2007 and her twin brother Brian, who suffers from a rare bone marrow disorder Fanconi’s Anaemia and now sadly is receiving palliative care, plans to raise the money in eight months.

Thirteen-year-old Adam plans to do something positive and hopes to raise as much as £10,000 for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children within eight months.

Adam, who goes to Friends School, wanted to do something positive according to mother Gaye during a very negative situation. He plans to do an abseil to raise money for NICFC and his target is £10,000.

However, because of his age - the age limit for abseiling is 14 - this will allow him eight months to reach his target.

His fundraising began on Saturday, November 3, when he was allowed to collect at the Down Royal Races and Adam, with some help from his friends from year 10 in Friends School, raised some money.

Gaye said, “We are finding ourselves emotionally drained and so afraid of how we will carry on without Brian in our lives, as he is and always was the life and soul of our home.

“But yet again Adam copes with his emotions by helping others and is a true inspiration to us all. I’m so proud of him. He know how valuable the ‘emotional support’ he gets from the NICFC is, hence him choosing this charity. They helped us all so much after we lost Helen and Adam is receiving fabulous support for what lies ahead.”

She has urged people who are especially thinking of Christmas and presents from Santa to spare a few pounds and thoughts for families who rely so much on this very worthwhile charity.

His fund raising will continue with bag packing at Greens Foodfare on Saturday, December 15, and a street bucket collection on Friday, December 21. He would also appeal to local businesses in Lisburn each to donate £5 to NICFC on his behalf, this can either be sent directly to NICFC or to his home address, 61a, Old Kilmore Road, Moira BT67 0LZ.