23/02/2026
Ballycastle Pickleball Club Donates £1,000 to BraveheartsNI Charity
Members of Ballycastle Pickleball Club have raised and donated £1,000 to BraveheartsNI, highlighting both their community spirit and a deeply personal connection to the cause.
The funds were raised through a Christmas Raffle held during their end of year party. It was decided to support BraveheartsNI as for one of their members the charity’s work is especially close to home.
Mandy, whose son Ben was born with congenital heart disease, spoke of the life-changing support her family received from BraveheartsNI. Ben was diagnosed at birth with multiple complex heart conditions, including double outlet right ventricle, co-arctation of the aorta and two ventricular septal defects. At just five weeks old, he underwent a 12-hour open-heart surgery. He later required further surgeries at the age of 16.
Reflecting on their journey, Mandy described BraveheartsNI as “a tremendous support.”
“I don’t know how I would have coped without them,” she said. “Especially Clare and her daughter Shaelyn — a true braveheart who founded the charity. They’ve been there for us when we needed it most.”
BraveheartsNI was inspired and developed by Shealyn Caulfield in 2014 when she was just 14 years old and admitted again into the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in heart failure. The charity provides practical, emotional and peer support to families navigating the challenges of congenital heart disease. The organisation works closely with parents and young people, offering guidance, advocacy and a strong sense of community for those facing often overwhelming medical journeys.
Club Chairperson Niki Heverin said the decision to support BraveheartsNI was unanimous once members heard Mandy and Ben’s story.
“Pickleball is about friendship and community”, Niki said. “When one of our own has experienced such challenges, and when a charity has made such a difference to a local family, we wanted to show our appreciation in a meaningful way.”
Clare Caulfield from BraveheartsNI thanked the club for its generosity, noting that donations like this help sustain family support services, awareness initiatives and vital resources for children and adults living with heart conditions.
The presentation of the £1,000 cheque served as a reminder that behind every fundraising effort lies a story — and for Ballycastle Pickleball Club, it is one of resilience, gratitude and community support beyond the court.
Ballycastle Pickleball Group Picture - Kevin McAuley. McAuley Multimedia Ltd
