Nobber family goes Christmas chopping for a special cause

A kind-hearted family from Nobber has made fabulous festive logs and snowmen to raise money for their local Cancer Support Group this Christmas.

Erin (10), Molly (9), Ruby (7) and Denis (5) McCormack have been busy making the logs all week with the help of mum Bridget and dad Kenneth and orders are already flying in for their wonderful creations, which they will also be selling in the village this Sunday. And their friends Cara (11) and Faye (7) Condra were so inspired by what they were doing that they decided they would like to make packets of reindeer food, which they will be also selling at the weekend as well to raise money for the local charity.

All the children are at school in Scoil Eoin Báiste and have a busy week of production ahead.

Bridget McCormack told how the four children have a "great little production line going" and explained how the idea came about. "Ken was cutting sticks and made up a snowman to show the kids. Erin said we could make them and sell them and we had wanted to do something for the local cancer support group so we said we could do that and give the money to them.

"The kids were delighted with the idea. So Ken started chopping up the logs and making them and the kids saved up their pocket money and we gave them some money and their grandparents as well to go off shopping for ribbons and baubles and bits and pieces to decorate them. They got bits and pieces from their granny Mary as well.

"So last week we sprayed the logs and snowmen with snow so they could dry and this weekend they started decorating them with baubles and ribbons and candles."

It was a busy weekend for the McCormacks with 42 already made, the majority of which are sold.

"They absolutely loved it and can't wait to start decorating the rest of them," said Bridget.

Denis is already making a great little sales rep and came home from school with orders from the teachers after telling them about their project.

Inspired by what the McCormacks were doing, their friends Cara and Faye Condra wanted to help out too. Mum Mairead, who herself has recently undergone cancer treatment, explained they made reindeer food last year for themselves and wanted to do it again this year and they came up with the idea of making up little bags and donating the money from the sales to the Nobber Cancer Support Group as well.