Richard Beattie of Beattie Livestock Sales, in conjunction with online sales platform, MartEye, will host ‘Auction of Hope’, a charity fundraiser, next month.
Organisers are aiming to raise £20,000 for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI) and Cancer Fund for Children on Friday, April 16th.
The idea came about from Air Ambulance NI’s Agribusiness Group. Its purpose is to promote and profile the work of Air Ambulance NI, while raising vital funds to help sustain the service for the people across Northern Ireland.
The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven-days-a-week for 12 hours per day.
The HEMS team attend patients, who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty with the aim of saving lives, brains, and limbs.
Air Ambulance NI needs to raise £2 million annually to maintain this service so public donations are crucial. The Covid-19 pandemic has “severely” impacted funding.
Group member, Libby Clarke, approached Richard Beattie of MartEye, to ask if it would be possible to organise a charity auction.
He selected Cancer Fund for Children as his chosen charity.
Its team of cancer support specialists help, guide and support families at home, in their community, and at its therapeutic short break and residential centre in Newcastle, Co. Down. Its support is focused not just on the young person, but on the whole family.
Furthermore, the charity assists bereaved families cope with the emotional pain of losing a child to cancer.
Auction of Hope – items
Speaking about the auction, Libby Clarke of the AANI Agribusiness Group said, “Our agribusiness group has secured 100 auction lots and will appeal to both farmers and non-agri, all purse strings and interests.”
“We have young goats, luxury weekend stays, a pedigree Holstein heifer calf and a tandem parachute jump for those adventure seekers.”
“We really hope everyone will download the MartEye app and join us on Friday, April 16th at 7.00 pm to help raise lots of vital funds for these two incredible charities.”
“Also, we want to send our sincere thanks to all the businesses across Northern Ireland who have donated prizes to the auction amid everything that is going on – they have truly shown their generous spirit and we are so grateful.”
Richard Beattie said, “MartEye was born last year when marts could no longer operate as normal and has brought trade online.”
“Already thousands of sales have been held for the benefit of the farming community. I am sure that they will dig deep to help two loved charities when usual fundraising events have been cancelled.”
Further information
You can access the catalogue over the coming weeks by clicking here.
