Charlene Barr honoured with awards
Dollingstown parishioner and courageous campaigner, the late Charlene Barr, was honoured in June as the Overall Winner of The Spirit of Northern Ireland Award and as The Sunday Life Unsung Hero.
Those nominated are ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things to help others - people whose uplifting stories of selfless acts have touched the hearts of all they have come into contact with.
The whole Barr family attended the event in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, hosted by Malachy Cush and Tina Campbell from the UTV Seven Thirty Show.
Janice (Charlene's mum) said, 'She won, but we all know where her real reward is! I am so proud of her, what a privilege God gave to us all in allowing us to be her family!'
What a great recognition for such a humble girl - 'She would have been under the table with embarrassment if she'd been there' said Janice. But it was a night about Charlene and her achievements - and those achievements only happened because of her faith in God - her light still shines brightly - Glory to God!
Charlene Barr passed away last October after a lifelong battle against the genetic disease, cystic fibrosis.
But the County Armagh teenager spent the final years of her all too short life determined to help the underprivileged kids in a Ugandan village have a brighter future.
Tragically, Charlene did not live to see the completion of the school for which she raised £70,000, sadly passing away while waiting for a double lung transplant operation.
But Dickie said that his family would make a extra special trip to the Hidden Treasure Primary School in August, with Charlene at the forefront of their minds -- and her spirit living on in continuing charity work.
Said the dad of six and local GP: "Charlene's determination to make a difference against all the odds lives on in the lives of family, friends and the children of Hidden Treasure in Uganda."
Read more and donate to www.charlenesproject.org