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- Bernie's a belter
Evening Echo
A BASILDON man has thrown his weight behind a charity
boxing show to raise cash for a critically injured boy
who has touched the heart of the Kray twins.
Bernard O'Mahoney from the Fryerns Estateis a leading
light behind the organisation of the show at Woodford
Bridge's Prince Regent Hotel on Friday March 23 to raise
money for 10-year-old James Fallon.
The youngster's life was shattered last year when he was
knocked down by a joy rider during what should have been
a brief stay in South Africa. Only four people in the
world have injuries as serious as James.
His skull is totally separated from his spine and is so
badly paralysed that he cannot even breathe or swallow
without the aid of machines. And his parents who had accepted
a five month contract to work in South Africa have been
told the English climate could threaten his health.
Even a cold could be fatal and they have been told he
must remain where he is. The Fallons now face a huge medical
bill but because of the South African connection, charity
aid has not been forthcoming.
Big hearted Bernard was horrified to hear of the youngster's
appalling injuries and was even more shocked to discover
they once lived on the same estate in the Midlands as
himself. He immediately involved himself with the appeal
fund and his story so moved his friend Reg Kray that he
too asked to play a part.
And following correspondence with Bernard he agreed to
donate proceeds of his recently published book Slang to
the fund - and that could generate around £80,000.
The twins also provided names and addresses of celebrities
to be invited to next month's boxing show and appeared
on publicity material for the fund.
Now Bernard is busy inviting star names to the dinner
show who will pay £40 a time admission and bid in
a special auction to raise further cash. Among those invited
are John H Stacey, Jools Holland, Charlie Magri, Barbara
Windsor, Bob Hoskins, Brian Travers of UB40, Lennie Peters
and Roger Daltrey.
"When I heard we used to live on the same estate,"
said Bernard, "I felt I had to do something. "The
hall at the Prince Regent Hotel holds around 300 and it
will be full for the show. It's not a case of finding
people to sell the tickets to, it's a case of who gets
them." |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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