Royal Mail Boosts Barnardo's

Northern Ireland is to figure in a major Royal Mail Group bid to raise funds for the first ever Barnardo's Believe in Children Month Appeal.

To mark the month long event, disabled, ultra-distance athlete Chris Moon will be embarking on the ultimate challenge by running an average of 36 miles a day for 30 days - a distance of more than 1000 miles.

Chris will commence the Post Office 1000 Challenge in Edinburgh on September 1st and finish in London at the end of the month, calling in at Barnardo's projects, Post Office branches, Royal Mail and Parcelforce operation sites en route.

The planned route brings him to Northern Ireland on Friday, 3 September when he will run the North Down Coastal Path from Holywood through Bangor to Groomsport and onwards to Newtownards where he will call in at the Post Office branch on Frances Street.

There he will be welcomed by Strangford MP, Jim Shannon, and will meet the Post Office staff who have been busy fundraising for the visit.

Leaving Newtownards, Chris will continue his run to Belfast City Post Office on Bridge Street where he will be greeted by the staff who have organised a number of fund- raising events, including the sale of 1000 homemade cakes. He will meet Lynda Wilson, Director Barnardo's NI and Baroness May Blood, Chair of Barnardo's NI Committee as well as some children who will join him in releasing 1000 balloons.

He will also take the opportunity to meet staff at Dr B's Kitchen on Bridge Street before heading off again to the Northern Ireland Mail Centre at Mallusk where further fund-raising events have been organised.

Chris Moon said: "I'm really excited to be involved in this fundraising campaign. Barnardo's is a very important charity to me because it provides vital help and encouragement for disadvantaged children. I hope that by doing this challenge it will help in some way to provide a brighter future for many more children."

Sheila McCann, Regional Development Manager, Post Office Limited said: "We are delighted that Chris is visiting Northern Ireland as part of his UK-wide challenge in which he will be visiting as many Post Office branches as possible during his inspirational cross country run.

"We hope this will unite people in these villages, towns and cities to raise vital funds that will make a real difference to thousands of Barnardo's children."

(BMcC/GK)