Racegoers bring in £42K for Mencap’s Annual Race Day

Learning disability charity Mencap recently raised £42,000 at their Annual Race Day at Down Royal Racecourse. More than 500 supporters donned their best race day apparel for the event hosted by long-time Mencap supporter Pamela Ballantine and organised by Mencap’s Special Events Committee and Young Professionals Committee.

Proceeds from an auction and collections throughout the evening will go to supporting new services and programmes at the charity’s Mencap Centre. Officially opened in March 2016, the innovative new building will serve as a model for early intervention services, as well as developing new ways to help children and young people with a learning disability in Northern Ireland.

Margaret Kelly, Director, Mencap Northern Ireland said:

“We would like to thank all who attended our Annual Race Day! Our goal is to reach as many children and young people with a learning disability and their families as possible. All donations raised will help us fund new holiday schemes, respite days and other initiatives to ensure Mencap is there for every family who gives birth to a child with a learning disability in Northern Ireland.

“I’d also like to thank Mencap’s Special Events Committee and Young Professionals committee who have done a fantastic job organising Race Day. This year’s Race Day was a huge success thanks to their hard work! Mencap’s Race Day is always a great example of just how generous our supporters are and we are confident their enthusiasm will encourage others to support Mencap and the work we do. We are sure Race Day 2017 will prove equally unmissable and would encourage everyone to book early!”

For more ways to support Mencap or to support the charity in the 2016 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon, visitwww.mencapbigstepforward.org, contact the Mencap fundraising team on fundraising.ni@mencap.org.uk or call 028 9069 1351.