Derry women brave the shave to fundraise for the children’s ward

Jake Barrett and Helena Fox who shaved their heads to raise funds for Altnagelvin Children's Ward.

Conor Fox was admitted to hospital a few weeks ago and his family had been told he was suffering from either COVID-19 or Appendicitis.

His mum Helena said the treatment her ten-year-old son received was ‘just phenomenal’ and she decided to raise some money for the Children’s Ward as a way of saying thank you.

“Conor had a temperature and was in pain. After a video consultation with our GP, who thought he either had the virus or Appendicitis, we were told to go straight to the Covid ward.

Conor spent five days in the children's ward after he was diagnosed with appendicitis

“Going into the hospital itself was terrifying and only one parent was allowed to stay with him. From the minute we walked in until the minute of Conor’s treatment was just phenomenal.”

Helena singled out one particular nurse called Hazel who managed to put a smile on Conor’s face despite how unwell he was and managed to dispel Helena’s fear about being in the hospital in the height of a global pandemic.

The ten-year-old Top of the Hill lad was diagnosed with Appendicitis and he was taken to theatre before being transferred to the Children’s Ward.

“We were relieved in many ways that it wasn’t Coronavirus. However, the surgeon told us Conor was very lucky as the Appendix had actually burst and it was a particularly nasty case.”

Killian Harkin, Helena's nephew has Asthma and has spent time in and out of hospital. He is doing a sponsored cycle and hopes to raise £500.

Conor spent five days in hospital following the surgery and Helena said the staff on Ward 6 could not do enough for her son, including all the auxiliaries, cleaners and nurses.

“When we were on the Children’s Ward it was like the pandemic wasn’t even happening, the staff shielded us from it and reassured us we were safe. It was almost like not being in the real world, because the staff were so focused on my youngster and what was wrong with him.

After seeing signs for the Parents Support Group on the ward, Helena decided she would like to make a donation of some kind.

After a conversation with her friend Jake Barrett, the women decided to shave off their hair to raise funds for the group.

Local hairdresser Paula Tracey who has pledged to shave her head if the fundraising reaches £5,000

“I found out they were raising money for specialist beds for children with special needs. I am a special needs classroom assistant and would work with children with profound needs so I really wanted to get involved.”

The women initially set a target of £500 and shaved their heads last weekend after they reached it.

However, donations have continued to pour in and at present they have raised over £2,000.

This encouraged another friend Paula Tracey, who is a former hairdresser, to pledge to shave her hair when the total reaches £5,000.

Helena’s nephew Killian Harkin, who has brittle Asthma and would often spend time on the ward, also decided to get involved with the fundraising and hopes to raise £500 with a sponsored cycle.

To donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/raise-money-for-childrens-covid-ward-altnagelvin