Charity plea for new car to help homeless
Cancer victim mum in cash call
A HOMELESS charity run by a cancer victim faces being unable to help anyone this Christmas after a car it uses for soup runs broke down.
The 12-year-old vehicle is also used by Edel Campbell to get to her many hospital appointments.
North County Outreach was set up by the 38-year-old and husband Bryan three years ago after they realised there were so many families in need.
The mum of three explained: “NCO does soup runs in Dublin city as well as helping with food and other supplies to families here in North Fingal.”
NCO now feeds hundreds of people, including families with children, every week outside the GPO.
For the couple, who love in Ballyboughal, North Co Dublin, it is a cause close to their hearts having experienced homelessness as children and lost their house to the banks during the recession.
Edel said: “We use the car for all the usual family stuff, shopping dropping kids to school etc but it is also used as an ambulance of sorts with all the runs to hospitals due to my ongoing medical problem.”
She added the Seat Alhambra is also used for “pick-ups, drop-offs and to run our soup kitchen and without it I believe NCO would cease to be”.
The couple spent €1,000 on the vehicle a few months ago and are now told that along with other problems, the fuel tank is leaking and the timing belt and exhaust must be replaced.
Bryan explained: “It guzzles fuel because of its age. We also need to replace the brake discs and pads and the mechanic has said it could just stop going again at any time. With NCO it is more or less in constant use.”
The couple now have set up a Gofundme page in a bid to raise €10,000 towards a new vehicle.
Bryan said: “We can only drive an automatic and they are very hard to get, even secondhand.
“We need a seven-seater as we take the seats out for the soup run and it’s filled to the brim with clothes, food, toiletries etc.”
They want to get a diesel and estimate insurance and tax will cost €1,800 a year.
Without a car the soup run would close, Edel could not get to all her appointments or chemotherapy and their daughter couldn’t get to school.
The kind-hearted mum is on an intensive programme to treat stage four breast cancer and public transport is not an option due to the risk of infection.
She explained: “There are very limited buses where we live and I would have to rely on lifts from friends as none of my family drive and are all on the Southside.
“I go to the hospital at least three or four times a week.”
The couple are also appealing for new toys for various ages and shop vouchers for struggling families.
Bryan said: “We would also appreciate small bottles of water and tins of sweets or anything festive to put on our Christmas party table on December 23.”
■ To help visit www.gofundme.com/ u97sg-car-fund
We need a seven-seater as we take the seats out for the soup run
BRYAN CAMPBELL
ON CHARITY’S VEHICLE HUNT