Big-hearted Ben’s NHS fundraising flowers

Big-hearted Ben McAllister, who has Down’s Syndrome, wanted to pay tribute to the staff of the NHS for their hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

So the 20-year-oldcame up with the fundraising idea of creating beautiful flower baskets to sell over the Easter holidays to raise money.

Dad Brendan told the Coleraine and Ballymoney Times: “Ben is such a kind hearted fella and anything he does, he does wholeheartedly.

“He has Down’s Syndrome and understands how hard the NHS worked all over the past year with COVID-19 .

“As a very kind young man that I’m so proud to call my son, Ben came up with the idea of making flower baskets all over Easter to raise money for the NHS.

“He put in a lot of work on the baskets.

“His goal was £100 but with great support from his wonderful friends, family and the community, Ben handed over a cheque to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine for £2,300.”

Ben, a former student at Sandelford School in Coleraine, handed over his cheque at Causeway Hospital to his friend Charlotte whose brother taught Ben at Sandelford.

Brendan continued: “Ben worked really hard on the baskets but the generosity of the people who supported him was unbelievable!

“We even had people who donated from as far away as Enniskillen.

“Ben would like to say thank you all for supporting him.”

Ben is now a student at the Northern Regional College in Ballymoney but hasn’t been at the campus due to Covid restrictions.

He is looking forward to being able to return to NRC.

Ben was also congratulated by the Kilrea Credit Union who were delighted to provide him with a giant charity cheque to allow him present his ‘blooming marvellous’ final total to the NHS workers at the Causeway.

Well done, Ben!