A fundraiser set up to support a County Armagh family forced out of their home after fire swept through it last week has already raised over £7,000 in a matter of hours.
Christopher and Alison Wade and their seven children – aged between eight and 20 – were devastated after the blaze caused substantial damage to their Mullavilly Heights home, near Tandragee.
The family had been enjoying a holiday on the North Coast last week, where one of their sons had been taking part in the SuperCup NI tournament.
Thirteen-year-old Eli Wade had been playing with Linfield Minors, with his team actually winning their final on Friday afternoon.
That evening, the family were preparing to make the journey back to Mullavilly to see the full extent of the damage and calculate the loss.
Dad Chris returned briefly to the house last Wednesday morning, just hours after the fire, but the couple decided not to tell their young children – and particularly Eli – as they did not want to “spoil his moment”.
Speaking to Armagh I on Friday afternoon, Chris said: “We’ve lost a car. We’ve lost the kids’ go-karts. We’ve lost all their wee bikes, tools in the garage, basically, power washers.
“You come up to my son’s room and the whole house is smoke damaged, so we’ve basically lost everything.
“It burnt the staircase. Our house is level, but because the staircase was wooden, it started to burn through the stairs. So we basically have no stairs to try and even get down. If you look through the stairs you can actually see into the garage. All the pipes are burnt too so there’s water damage as well.
“I’ve seen the damage briefly, because I wasn’t allowed into the back of the house. I took a few pictures. They allowed me to go in at one stage to go and see if I could get the CCTV, which I couldn’t. So I just took a couple of wee pictures. I haven’t been back since, but we’re going today and it’s not going to be good now.
“We’re heading back here soon and we’re just going to go to the house and see what we can maybe salvage.”
With the family heavily involved in local footballing circles, the community has rallied around.
A JustGiving page was established on Monday by Eliteonefootball Management, with an initial target of £10,000.
In a short space of time, over £7,000 had been donated to help the Wade family, with that figure growing by the hour.
The organiser, in kickstarting the effort, wrote: “Like so many others, I was heartbroken to hear about the devastating fire that destroyed the Wade family’s home.
“It’s impossible to imagine losing not only your home but also all the precious memories, belongings, and sense of security that come with it. As parents to seven children, they now face an incredibly difficult journey to rebuild their lives.
“The Wade family are well known for their kindness and generosity, always giving their time to support others.
“Now it’s our turn to give something back.
“I’m raising money to help ease some of the financial pressure they’re facing and to show them they’re not alone. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference and help the family as they begin to rebuild. It would be amazing if we could exceed the target!!
“If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can’t, sharing this page would mean just as much.
“Let’s come together and help the Wade family through this incredibly difficult time.”
Among those to share the appeal was Linfield FC, which called on fans to help if they could.
Several Belfast-based Linfield Supporters’ Clubs made significant donations alongside many individuals who simply wanted to help.
The family are held in great esteem by the club, with two of the boys on Linfield’s books; Eli plays for the Under 13s, while Oliver turns out for Linfield’s Swifts.
Linfield has described what happened to the Wades as “heartbreaking”.
In sharing the appeal on social media, the club wrote: “With seven children, the Wade family now faces the incredibly difficult task of rebuilding their lives. A JustGiving page has been set up to support them during this devastating time.
“Any donation, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful difference and be deeply appreciated by the family.”
The response was immediate and far-reaching.
Football rivalries were set aside as several Glentoran fans also pledged to back the family in their time of need.
One wrote: “I am a Glenman, quite happy to donate. These things transcend football. May they have nothing but good luck in the future.”
And another of similar sentiment added: “I’m a Glenman and this is where every supporter should come together and support the family.”
Anyone who would like to contribute can do so here.
