Friends and colleagues of the late Karen Coyles have raised £2300 to help the Community Rescue Service (CRS).

In order to thank the CRS for their extraordinary help during the search for their dear friend and colleague Karen, staff from the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE) at the University's Coleraine campus held a Christmas Cake, Craft, Book and DVD sale to raise money for the voluntary community organisation.

 With the help of colleagues in the School of Biomedical Sciences and other University departments, the team from NICHE spent many hours baking, icing and decorating hundreds of  tasty and nutritious cupcakes, pastries, cakes and buns.

In the run-up to the event, craft evenings were even held in the University’s Senior Common Room and books, CDs and DVDs were donated from throughout the university.

Professor Barbara Livingstone from NICHE said “Staff and students were keen to do something to help raise funds for the rescue service after seeing the hard work and the commitment from the volunteers to help the local community search for missing persons”.

A raffle was also held, with prizes kindly donated from staff and local businesses – from  hand-made Christmas cakes to a DVD player (Henderson’s) and a Sunday carvery for two (Portstewart Golf Club).  Congratulations to all those who won!!

Sean McCarry, Community Rescue Service regional commander, paid a visit to the university on the day of the sale.  He was delighted with the response and more so with the very tasty buns.

The total raised was an amazing £2300 and NICHE would like to sincerely thank all staff, students and visitors who kindly helped us in our efforts. 

Sean said that “Every single penny would be put to good use to purchase equipment urgently needed by the Community Rescue Service” and he was extremely grateful for the support from the university.

Alison Deehan, NICHE Administrator said, “Karen was such a popular and respected member of staff and it is the least we could do to pay tribute to a dear friend”.

“The team in NICHE and School of Biomedical Sciences will be hosting further events to support and raise more money for the Community Rescue Service, so keep alook out for these not-to-be-missed activities, “ she added.

CAPTION: Big-hearted fundraisers frm the University came together to raise £2300 to help the Community Rescue Service, and thank its people for their efforts in the search for Karen.

Back row, from left to right: Adrian McCann, Barbara Livingstone, Claire McLaughlin, Debbie Tasker, Mary McCahon, Ruth Price, Maeve Kerr, Lynn McGuffin, Aisling Cowen, Kristina Pentieva

Front row, from left to right: Maria Mulhern, Tracy McCrorie, Natalie Dallat, Sean McCarry (CRS Team leader), Alison Deehan, Kirsty Pourshahidi, Gemma Falkner, Alison McAfee, Philip Allsopp