JUST in case this country's charitable minded folk didn't have enough already to chew over, on Wednesday an organisation was officially launched called the Bubble Gum Club. Actually, the club isn't all that new while it came into existence 18 months ago, its origins go back 20 years to the days when courier service Pony Express first began.
The company used to organise a fund raising event for charity every Christmas, explains 43 year old Peter Harris, who started both Pony Express and the Bubble Gum Club. "Life has been both good and bad to me," says Mr Harris when why he wanted to start up a new charity. "It's people's obligation do something like this." He's involved in another courier called Radius but hasn't for his interest in children after he has four of his own. One of nine year old Suvi, arranged the Bubble Gum Club's fund raising effort she raffled her teddy bear school and made £150 for the charity. However, her father has decided more substantial funds are now necessary, so on Wednesday evening he and his fellow committee members hosted a dinner in Brubeck's restaurant in Ballsbridge, which was expected to raise up to £15,000 for their cause.
Where will this money go? Well, in late May the Bubble Gum Club is going to take 60 children, including 15 from the Royal Hospital in Belfast, to Alton Towers in Staffordshire on a three day holiday. In addition to the children, this group will include 20 medical staff and the same number of drivers and minders. "Generally all our treats and outings are for groups en masse," says Mr Harris, "but if there are special requests from particular kids, we'll try to look after them as well."