News

Model Farm Show supports Jennifer’s Journey

17 Feb , 2015  

Mid Ulster Sports Arena will open its doors for the first time ever this March to visitors of Mid Ulster’s largest Farm and Construction Show, in association with Cookstown District Council, in aid of Jennifer’s Journey and Stewartstown Primary School. Thousands of people from all over Northern Ireland and beyond are set to converge on the show, running from 10am – 6pm on Saturday 14th March.

According to Phillip Armstrong, Show Organiser, this years’ show is set to be an exciting new event in the agricultural calendar, “We were extremely encouraged by the support we received from Cookstown District Council, our sponsors, exhibitors and members of the public so far, and we are determined to make the event a success.  At the core of the Show is family fun and community spirit. It’s a great day out for all the family, and proceeds are going to a good cause so we hope the Mid-Ulster community come out to support the event.”

“We are also very excited that the show will feature the sensational Grassmen. Giving an insight into the agricultural business, their DVDs are extremely popular and their YouTube channel has been watched by thousands. Visitors to the show will have a chance to meet the Grassmen and see them in action.“

The location of the Show at Mid Ulster Sports Arena will allow outside displays of machinery and vehicles including some Iconic Scania Lorries, the Grassmen Tractors and other Tractors from over the years, some rally cars as well as the main display of dioramas and model machinery exhibitors in the indoor arena.

The proceeds of the event will go towards the Jennifer’s Journey charity and Stewartstown Primary School.

Jennifer Smyth’s journey began on September 24th 2013 – at 5:30pm to be precise. On that day, as a 16-year-old gymnast at her local club, Jennifer suffered a fall which broke her neck and left her quadriplegic.

Determined never to give up, in 2014, Jennifer spent time at Stoke Mandeville’s internationally acclaimed spinal injuries unit in Buckinghamshire. Her time there, she says, has changed her life immeasurably.  “They are all about getting you independent which was what I wanted to hear,” says Jennifer.

Initially funded to go for a period of a week, staff at the specialist unit said they believed Jennifer could make progress staying for longer.

The weeks that followed at the English spinal injuries unit gave Jennifer the physical and mental boosts she needed, with a tailored exercise regime and using innovative functional electrical stimulation to encourage movement in her legs and hands by using electrical impulses to work her muscles.

The organisers of the show hope that money raised will give Jennifer new opportunities to make more progress in her journey.

Stewartstown Primary School will also benefit from the show, with the money raised for the School being used to provide educational resources for this small rural Primary School.

Admission charges are £5 per adult and £3 per child, with a family ticket available at £20. Further information on the programme, exhibitors and attractions can be found at www.facebook.com/MidUlsterModelShow .

For more information you can contact Phillip Armstrong, [email protected] or on +44 (0) 7521 264 362