The NI Limousin Cattle Breeders Club is running a charity auction at the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) show and sale at Ballymena Mart on 7 May 2018.
After hearing the story of Graham and Joanne McFarland the club has sprung into action with a plan to raise funds for the NI Children’s Hospice who has supported the family recently. Graham’s brother Howard runs the Rahoney herd in Trillick, Co Tyrone.
Graham and Joanne’s son Andrew is struggling with a rare neurodegenerative condition, a variant form of Late Infantile Batten Disease (CLN5) which causes blindness, complex epilepsy, along with the loss of mobility, the ability to communicate and swallow. Just before Christmas Andrews health deteriorated, he became seriously unwell and after a long stay in hospital the family found themselves in the care of the NI Children’s Hospice over the Christmas holiday period. Graham said “We thought Andrew wouldn’t make it to Christmas, but thankfully he did, and being at the Hospice allowed us to spend time together as a family after almost two months of being separated by hospital stays. The nurses and other staff gave up their time at Christmas so we could spend the special time together; we will always be grateful to them for that” He went onto say “The staff t the hospice are simply amazing, nothing whatsoever is a problem to them. There was always someone on hand if needed and we were looked after in every way. We managed to have some very valuable quality time with our close family”
Following their experience the family want to give thanks to the Hospice by raising funds and Howard has donated two embryos to be auctioned at the BLCS sale at Ballymena. Club member David Hamill is now on the lookout for other donations, semen, embryos or anything else that could raise funds for this very worthwhile cause.
David, who runs the Cloverdale Herd in Dunmurray, can be contacted on 07885 216578 or dahamill@hotmail.com with any donations.
Currently for auction at Ballymena 7th May is :
10 semen straws from Ampertaine Gigolo (to be sold in 2 lots of 5)
5 semen straws from Carmon Cantona
Scottish Blackface painting
A pig for butchering, to be sold in 2 halves (plus services of butcher)
One nights B&B at Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel
One tonne of Code 18
2 Rahoney Limousin embryos
A model tractor
A calf dehorning crush
Wheelbarrow, spade, shovel and 4 bags of compost
2 straws of Ronick Hawk semen
Suffolk type in-lamb ewe (or with lamb at foot)
4 White show coats with printing
10 straws Norman Ely semen
3 straws of Uskudar semen
3 straws of Homebyers Visitor semen
7 straws of Bailea Bullion semen
A Border Fine Arts Limousin bull
One Ashmara Classygirl x Ronick Hawk/Chaumeil embryo
One Craigatoke Unique x Sympa/Haltcliffe Underwriter embryo
Unisex Limousin Gilet, Limousin silk tie and Limousin beanie hat
2 straws of Tanhill Rumpus semen
6 straws of Casmir semen
6 semen straws. One each from, Bolide, Bahut, Emerson, Ferry, Don Juan and Gladiator
6 male and 3 female pheasants
HVS Animal Health £75.00 gift voucher
Limousin heifer calf (6/7 months old)
One Carmorn Gucci x Sympa/Trueman Jagger embryo
One box of all trace boluses
For auction at Carlisle 5th May :
2 Whinfellpark Femi x Lowerffrydd Empire embryos (from Messrs Jenkinson)
Cookstown B1425 x Ampertaine Elgin/Dinmore Goldcrest embryo (from H Savage & Sons)
Grahams Coffee x Claragh Franco embryo (from R & J Graham)
Original canvas oil painting of a Limousin bull
