After 25 years Newry ‘Black Santa’ presents final cheque to Southern Area Hospice | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

After 25 years Newry ‘Black Santa’ presents final cheque to Southern Area Hospice

John 2016 Presentation stairsAfter 25 bitterly cold winters, John Dalzell MBE has presented his final cheque to Southern Area Hospice.

Every Christmas for two and a half decades local ‘Black Santa’ John spent his birthday the same way – standing on Newry’s oldest shopping street to collect money for the local Hospice.

Turning 75 this year, John has raised over £1.45 million to date in a challenge which sees him enduring the wet and windy weather of the Christmas season for 10 days in a bid to raise vital funds.

Article continues below:

Jan End 2017Every year as temperatures begin to drop, the familiar sight of John with his signature red suit and festive sit out trailer took up residence on Hill Street for yet another year of gruelling fundraising.


 

His final cheque of £73,655 was recently presented to the Southern Area Hospice and a spokesperson for the Hospice commended his incredible work. “John’s work over this past 25 years has been selfless, charitable and exemplary.

“He truly is an amazing ambassador for the Southern Area Hospice and his efforts have helped the lives of many over the past 25 years, raising over £1.45 million in total.


 

“John’s larger than life character has had a rippling motivational effect throughout our community. His good work will be continued on in his name. John extends his thanks to those that helped him make the Sit Out so successful over the past 25 years.”

More on this story:

25 year anniversary for John Dalzell’s ‘Hospice Sit Out’
John Dalzell’s sit out brings spirit of giving to Newry this Christmas

 


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Posted by on Feb 5 2017. Filed under Community, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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