THE mother of north Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe has made a donation to Community Rescue Service who helped look for her missing son.
Fiona Donohoe said she hoped the £3,000 would help the team to "continue to do their wonderful and very difficult work".
In the week that marks one year since Noah (14) went missing, Ms Donohoe made the first of a series of donations from the Noah Donohoe Fund, which she has opened in memory of the teen.
She met members of the team from Community Rescue Service who helped search for Noah during the six days he was missing, to thank them for their support.
"Losing Noah has been hugely difficult for my family and I, and every day we think of him and his amazing young life’s achievements," she said.
"I will be forever grateful to the hundreds of people who joined with the search and rescue team during the six days we searched for Noah and this donation will help them continue to do their wonderful and very difficult work.
"I know Noah would have wanted this as a thank you too, it was the kind of boy he was - very kind and generous of spirit."
The fund is part of the Noah Donohoe Foundation, which was established by Ms Donohoe to help children from all communities across Northern Ireland to fulfil their potential.
The initial round of funding grants will provide support to groups in Belfast across music and sport - two areas which Noah was passionate about.
Ms Donohoe selected another three organisations to each receive a £1,000 donation - St James Swifts Football Club, Sandy Row Football Club and St Malachy's College music department.
"In creating this foundation in Noah’s memory, I want to support children from all communities across Northern Ireland in as many diverse ways as possible," she said.
"As Noah taught me in his short life, there is no limit to what any child can achieve given the right opportunity.
"Noah crammed so much into his life, and his passion for arts, sports and learning will live on through this foundation. It helps me immensely knowing Noah’s legacy and presence is making impact for other young people locally."
Siofra Healy from the Community Foundation, which helps run the fund, said: "We were really pleased to be able to help Fiona and her family organising this fund in memory of Noah who was clearly a very special young boy and much loved son.
"This fund embraces Noah’s many academic, sporting and artistic talents alongside his huge generosity of spirit.
"This same generosity of spirit was so evident from the community of north Belfast to Fiona and her family in the search which ensued in the difficult days after Noah went missing."
