Local woman Fiona raises £2,800 for FSR through Sober October

Fiona McDaid, who raised £2797.25 to Christina McKeegan, Foyle Search and Rescue, the proceeds from a Sober October fund raising event organised by Fiona and supported by friends and family. Included in the photograph are Margaret Doherty and Mary Forbes. DER2046GS - 006

Mum of three, Fiona McDaid took on the task in her latest effort to support the local charity.

“It’s an experience I will never forget,” she told the Journal.

Fiona initially came up with the idea of taking part in Sober October before the announcement of a second local lockdown. With children at home to look after, either though periods of self-isolating or the extended Hallowe’en break, Fiona’s task was made all the bit more difficult. Despite any early doubts that she may have had, she felt that the online support she received from friends gave her the determination to continue with her attempt to abstain from alcohol for a month.

Fiona McDaid, who raised £2797.25 for Foyle Search and Rescue from a Sober October fund raising event with support from friends and family. DER2046GS - 008

Fiona’s initial plans were to do something to raise some funds for Foyle Search & Rescue as she was aware that so much of the charity’s income relies on public donations.

With a target of £500 set, Fiona hoped people would get behind her efforts for the charity. But within the first three days, that target was smashed, much to her surprise, and over the course of the month Fiona revised her target four separate times, thanks to the public’s generosity.

Christina McKeegan, Project Co-ordinator for Foyle Search & Rescue, said the charity was ‘blown away’ by Fiona’s Sober October effort, and were delighted with the money raised.

Fiona has been no stranger to fundraising for Foyle Search & Rescue, having joined forces with her friends to raise around £22,000 in the One Big Fundraiser a few years ago. Christina said that Fiona ‘has been such a fantastic advocate for the charity.’

For Fiona, Sober October this year was made all the more difficult by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“With the whole city practically locked down it was hard to do anything,” she said. “With all the people supporting me, there was no way I was going to back out. Once the donations started to flood in, that made me even more determined to stick with it,” she said.

In order to stay focused on her task, she found herself walking the two bridges.

Fiona thanked Billy and Brigid from the Bogside Inn, Debbie and Stephen Porter from Jika Jika, and Tony O’Connor from the Bentley. “They have been massive supporters of our fundraising efforts in the past and especially throughout Sober October too,” she added.

With Sober October out of the way, Fiona says that she has no desire to do it again. “I think I would rather throw myself out of a plane,” she jokes. “With a parachute of course. Certainly, a sky dive would be easier.”