'A Lifetime of Difference'

Online, June 3, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Northern Ireland's only conductive education charity, Dungannon based Buddy Bear Trust, today launched its new 'Lifetime of Difference Project' in the Lord Mayor's Parlour at Belfast City Hall. The project aims to at least double the number of NI's children suffering from cerebral palsy who can be helped by the Buddy Bear Trust School by raising £100,000 in the next year. The company has already been pledged some £20,000 per annum from Ulster Garden Villages, as well as £25,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation and £5,000 from Lloyds.

Currently, only 12 children can be helped at the school based in Dungannon. It is hoped that in the future services can be provided to double this number and also to provide outreach facilities to some children who cannot travel to the school.

Speaking at the launch, Brendan McConville, Chairman of the Buddy Bear Trust said: "Without conductive education, many cerebral palsy children spend their lives being looked after with little or no real independence. The provision of specialist conductive education services means that each child suffering from this crippling disease can achieve his or her optimum amount of independence throughout their life. There are sixty five children born in Northern Ireland every year with this debilitating condition; at the moment a lack of funding means we can only provide education services for twelve.

"Today's event sees the start of a dedicated fundraising effort over the next year to allow us to expand these services. It is wonderful that a number of Northern Ireland businesses and organisations have come together to help us fulfil our new objectives. Ulster Garden Villages, the Garfield Weston Foundation and Lloyds Bank have all committed significant levels of funding. I would also like to thank BDO Managing Partner Francis Martin and the NI Chamber of Commerce for their support," he added.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long MP MLA said: "I am delighted to be able to facilitate the launch of the Lifetime of Difference Project in my last week as the Lord Mayor of Belfast. At times like this funding for such initiatives becomes ever more challenging and it is encouraging to see the private sector stepping up to the mark to assist the Buddy Bear Trust. The work of the charity is a great example of people taking responsibility to try to help those less fortunate."

Today's event follows the formation of a Buddy Bear support group, the Buddy Bear Trust Association, which includes a number of Northern Ireland businesses. As well as providing financial support, the Association also aims to promote the work of the school and provide logistical support. The Association's members include BDO, Tughans Solicitors, Tiffen Developments, Richland Group, NI Chamber of Commerce, Tascomi, Lloyds TSB, Ulster Garden Villages Ltd, Garfield Weston Foundation, P.McCann & Sons and Mallaghan Engineering.