Local man Kevin Erwin has been working hard ahead of Halloween to suitably decorate his home and garden to put a smile on children’s faces, while hoping to raise money for The Children's Cancer Unit Charity.
It is a cause close to Kevin’s heart - he himself has experienced the challenges of battling cancer.
It was during his course of treatment at hospital that he encountered many children facing the same battle.
“It is heartbreaking to see children suffer with such a terrible disease,” said Kevin. “After my last course of treatment, I said I wanted to do something to help those children. So I had an idea to decorate my home for Halloween to hopefully put a smile on children’s faces, and adults too - old and young - while raising money for this brilliant charity.”
The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity is dedicated to helping fund the children’s haematology and cancer unit in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Between 60 – 70 children in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cancer each year.
Every one of them will visit the Children’s Cancer Unit throughout their journey, as it is the only place in Northern Ireland where children can receive specialist treatment for cancer.
Here, children affected by cancer and blood disorders are treated and cared for by a team of experienced and devoted medical professionals and staff.
The Children’s Cancer Unit is part of a global network which facilitates crucial clinical trials with the objective of improving survival rates, and the quality of that survival, for children affected by these dreadful disorders.
The mission statement of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology is ‘No child should die of Cancer’, a vision that the Children’s Cancer Unit in Belfast embraces.
You can pop around with your children to see Kevin’s spooky garden between 6:30pm - 9pm any day up until Sunday 5th November. Halloween weekend from 6:00pm - 12:00am.
• 3, Innishowen Park, (off the Cullybackey Road), Ballymena, BT43 5NE.
Remember to make a DONATION to the charity during your visit.