A FERMANAGH teenager and his parents have given young hospital patients in Belfast an early Christmas present through the donation of 13 new televisions.
Mark McGoldrick (15) from Enniskillen has been treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children since the age of two and a half for multiple medical problems affecting his spine, bones and bladder and in recognition of his first-class care decided to give something back.
"In all his younger years we have spent so much time in the Royal with Mark," mother Lorraine told the Irish News.
"We had a spell there for a couple of years where it was manageable, but he's slipped back there a wee bit at the minute.
"When we went back recently the change up there was crazy in terms of the facilities.
"We were in a ward of 17 kids and there was one TV. We asked and they said when TV changed to digital all were obsolete so when we came home Mark decided he wanted to do something," she explained.
Mark, an avid Tyrone and Derrrygonnelly GAA fan, presented 13 televisions with built in DVD players as well as a host of DVDs to the Children's Hospital in the hope they will bring joy to those in hospital over the Christmas period.
The televisions were funded through generous donations from businesses in Fermanagh.
"We hope it will make a big difference to a lot of people and act as an early Christmas present. We just hope we 're not going to have to avail of it," she said
Monday, marks the St Michael's College student's 21st theatre visit and the McGoldrick family are forever grateful for the care they have received in Belfast.
