Zoe raises thousands of pounds for charity

LOCAL girl Zoe Philips has said a huge thank you to everyone who helped her raise over �2000 for charity.

Zoe, who has been a patient of the Royal Victoria Hospital's Children's Haematology Unit Belfast for four years, recently underwent a bone marrow transplant at Bristol Children's Hospital.

To thank the staff of the two hospitals, Zoe and her mother Elaine decided to raise money for the two causes by holding a Country Music Charity Show at the Millbrook Hotel earlier this year.

A host of Irish country music stars performed at the event and everyone agreed it was a fantastic night's entertainment. Thanking everyone for their support, Zoe's mum Elaine said: "I would like to thank the musicians who performed on the night - Gary Gamble, Boxcar Brian, Donna Duffin, Marty Daniels, Roy Ballantine, Fiddlin Tom Cameron, Caitlin, Logue & McCool, backing band Breakaway and compere Gary Wilson. "I would also like to say a very special thank you to Warren Smyth, who gave me all the contacts for the show. Without him there would have been no show.

"The evening was a great success," she added. "People are still talking about it." The fundraising evening raised �2060, which was split between the two charities, and will be used to provide play equipment at the two hospitals.