€254,000 raised for charity as ‘Bear’ readies to host 2025 Toy Appeal in Lifford

Lifford man Keith ‘Bear’ Gamble is appealing for people to support Toy Appeal 2025 this Sunday.

A big charity day will take place this Sunday from 11am-2pm at Patterson’s Kitchens in Lifford with toys to be donated to Letterkenny University Hospital.

A range of super cars and classic cars will be on show on the day. Everyone is simply asked to bring an unwrapped toy or to make a charitable donation.

The toys will then be given to the children’s ward at LUH while the money raised will be used to buy more toys.

“We’ll go to Home Bargains in Strabane and it’ll be like Supermarket Sweep,” Bear says. “This is a real feel-good day. I love doing this because the feeling you get when you see the smiles on the wee kids’ faces is just unbelievable.

“Of all the stuff I do for charity, this is the one for me. It’s class.”

This is the fifth year of the Toy Appeal while Bear’s charity fundraising already stands at a whopping €254,996. 

Previously Knockavoe School in Strabane, Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry and Letterkenny University Hospital have benefited from the Top Appeal.

Santa Claus, The Stitch and The Grinch will all be in attendance on Sunday with something for all the family while The Lunch Loft will be present for refreshments.

Bear says: “It’s open to everyone. It’s a brilliant family day and all we ask is that people bring a toy or donate.,

“Anyone coming to show their car, the same and it all goes to the same place.”

A Porsche GT3-RS, a Porsche 911 Turbo S, a Mustang, and a Lamborghini Huracan. 

The Bear Run and a variety of car shows over the last five years have benefited charitable causes to the tune of over a quarter-of-a-million euro now. His efforts were recently acknowledged by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Ruairi McHugh, who made a presentation in recognition of the fundraising.

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Bear’s father, Joseph, passed away at home in Croaghan Heights in July 2021 at the age of 74.

“He used to do a lot of charity work,” Gamble says. “This is to keep his name alive. He raised 40 grand for charity over the years and I told him that I’d beat his figure! My nickname is ‘Bear’ and because he died at 74, that’s where ‘Bear Run 74’ comes from. This is what it’s about: keeping his name alive and helping people.”

He did the first Bear Run in 2022 and has done four now, but has also held various car shows, including one recently at Lifford Stadium to honour the memory of Christian McCullagh, the 17-year-old from Raphoe who died in September and who was a huge fan of the Bear Run.