Ulster GAA’s charity skydive raises over £37k

Pictured at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen’s University, from left: Michéal O’Fearraigh, QUB Annual Fund Supervisor; Larry Reilly, former Cavan footballer; Professor Suneil Jain, Queen’s University Belfast; Jarlath Burns, GAA Uactarán-Tofa and former Armagh footballer; Ciaran McLaughlin, Ulster GAA President; Professor Joe O’Sullivan, QUB; Dr Laura Feeney, QUB; Dr Aidan Cole, QUB; Marty McGrath, former Fermanagh footballer; Stephen O’Reilly, Queen’s University Belfast Development Manager.

Ulster GAA’s recent charity skydive raised over £37,000 in aid of its chosen charities, the Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation supporting prostate cancer research at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, and Air Ambulance NI.

In April, nine high-profile GAA personalities from each of Ulster’s counties took on a 15,000 ft skydive to raise money for the two vital causes and after tremendous support from across the province, proceeds will be shared between the two organisations.

Ulster GAA representatives recently visited Queen’s University to announce the final figure and meet with some of the research team, led by Prof Joe O’Sullivan, Prof Suneil Jain and oncologist Dr Aidan Cole.

Ulster GAA President Ciaran McLaughlin and Public Relations Officer Michael McArdle attended the event, as well as several of the GAA stars who took part in the skydive; GAA Uactarán-Tofa and former Armagh Ulster Championship winning captain, Jarlath Burns, former Ulster Championship winning Cavan star, Larry Reilly, and former Fermanagh All-Star, Marty McGrath.

Ulster GAA President, Ciarán McLaughlin, commented:

“Everyone at Ulster GAA is delighted with the fantastic total raised by the GAA family for our charity skydive and two very worthy charities. I would again like to express our gratitude to the nine jumpers from across our counties who made this possible by taking on the challenge.

“As a cause close to my heart, I am delighted that Ulster GAA has been able to work with the Queen’s University team in recent years to help create a greater awareness of the disease. The funds raised from our skydive will go directly to the world-class prostate cancer research work by the team in Belfast and support men diagnosed with the disease across all our communities.

Dr Aidan Cole from Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research added:

“The prostate cancer research team at Queen’s would like to extend its thanks to all involved in the successful skydive fundraiser and its generous supporters. The partnership with the Ulster GAA was established to improve education, diagnosis and management of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in our communities.

“We are proud of our strong links with the GAA community and these funds will help to provide our patients with the best treatments available and lead in clinical trials that can transform the treatment of prostate cancer in the future.”

For more information about the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research: qub.ac.uk/research-centres/cancer-research

Ulster GAA will present Air Ambulance NI with their skydive donation at a later date.