Without dedicated, selfless people like John Dalzell, vital funds for charity would never be raised

Frank Mitchell

Former Fiirst Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill join John Dalzell at his Christmas sit-out to raise funds for the Southern Area Hospice, Newry, December 2020

August 21 2021 07:00 AM

I read an article yesterday about my friend John Dalzell from Newry. To give him his full title, John Dalzell MBE. John has been honoured a number of times for his amazing fundraising work. He focuses on support for the local hospice and over the last 25 years has raised in the region of £1.5 million. He does it the hard way. Wrapped in layers to protect himself from the biting winter chill, he spends most of December among the shoppers collecting cash and reminding people that at some time almost every family locally might avail of the expert care from the staff at the Southern Area Hospice.

John, like so many other generous people, gives that precious commodity of time. Most of us don’t have the ability to be so generous. We might pop a fiver in the collection and feel we’ve done our bit and of course every donation counts, but without dedicated people like John the collection never happens and the funds are never raised. It takes a special mindset. The generous people who give their time begin by thinking: how can I help those in need?

Those who don’t have time to give sometimes give generously in other ways. Some of us make a smaller financial gesture to satisfy our guilt for not making time to assist properly and some of course give nothing at all because they only think about themselves.

I was speaking recently on the radio show to a very articulate young man who gave me about seven reasons why he would not go for the Covid-19 vaccination. While I have listened to other relevant concerns from young women worrying about fertility issues and expectant mums understandably anxious about doing the right thing, this young man was self-obsessed. He had an obvious ability to see himself as the only person who mattered and the world is peppered with individuals like that.

The medical experts have explained on the show why we should not be concerned and hopefully those young women and expectant mums are now vaccinated but I don’t think anyone will ever get through to that young man or those like him.

They are not afraid and in need of reassurance which is an understandable way to be. They are inward looking and deny that sometimes they need to do unusual things to help others.

I don’t know whether they are blinded by the conspiracy theories on social media or just the type of people who prefer to row with one oar in the water, but they are now a drag weight holding the rest of us back from a full return to something that resembles normality.

I can’t imagine these people ever coming up with a major fundraising idea to help others. I can’t see them generously dipping into their pockets to grab money for the collection bucket. Maybe I’m wrong. They might be caring, sharing and giving but just can’t see that at a time of crisis we all have to do something that makes us feel more uncomfortable than normal.

As I spoke to the young man, I was thinking he would not have made much of a comrade on the field of battle. He would not have been there to cover your back. He would have been cowering behind a tree in case he muddied his uniform. It crossed my mind to suggest to him he was cowardly and unreliable but I didn’t. I’m glad I didn’t because the more appropriate description is selfish. He lacks the ability to display the quality of generosity that won John Dalzell his MBE. You don’t have to be like John helping people for 25 years. When it comes to time we’re asking for about 25 minutes. You’ll get the jab you’ll be back out the door and this place will be happier and healthier for all of us.

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