Ciara McElvanna: Family to raise cash for hospital unit at Belfast marathon

A Just Giving page set up to remember a Co Armagh woman who died after a horror road collision last year has raised more than £17,300 for the hospital unit that cared for her.

Mother-of-four Ciara McElvanna (44) died in the Royal Victoria Hospital days after a four-vehicle collision near Markethill on November 4.

Her friends Patrick Grimley (40) and his wife Ciera also lost their lives as a result of the accident.

A major fundraising drive set up last year to support the three Grimley children has raised more than £441,000.

From Madden in Co Armagh, those who died were travelling home in a taxi from Dundalk where they had been celebrating Mr Grimley’s 40th birthday, when the collision, which resulted in nine people being hospitalised, took place.

A Just Giving page has now been set up in her memory by her sister Cáilín Haddock, who will take part in the Belfast marathon on Sunday.

The page has already raised more than £17,300, with more than 600 donations received.

Cash raised will be donated to the charity Revive, which supports the work of the Regional Intensive Care Unit and High Dependency Unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

Funds raised by Revive are used to purchase equipment, improve facilities and services for patients and their families and support research and development projects.

In an online post Ms Haddock said she was taking part in the marathon “in loving memory of our beautiful sister and dear friend”.

“Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to RICU, as a small token of our eternal gratitude for the love, care, and dignity they provided to Ciara during her final days,” she said.

To make a donation please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/cailin-haddock-1708619006250