Lisburn’s Larchfield Estate held their annual Christmas in the Barn event in November, and this year they were able to raise an impressive £23,938.28 for the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs (DSM) Foundation, a drug education charity. The funds raised will go towards financing a new production of the foundation’s powerful verbatim play, ‘I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’ by Mark Wheeller, which is set to tour schools across Northern Ireland for two weeks in Spring 2025. The response from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, with the tour quickly booking up and additional days having to be added to meet the demand.
Sandra Larmour, a mother from County Armagh, received a cheque on behalf of the DSM Foundation from the Christmas in the Barn team, Lucinda Kinnaird and Sarah Mackie. Larmour’s daughter Jeni tragically passed away at the age of 18 after taking ketamine on her first day at Newcastle University. Larmour has been working closely with Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, Director and Founder of the DSM Foundation and mother of Dan, to raise awareness and prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.
The DSM Foundation has commissioned Ballymena and Coleraine-based educational theatre company, Ever Unique Productions, to create a new production of their play for Northern Ireland schools. This production is based on the successful production performed by the company’s two youth theatres in 2023. The play, titled ‘I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’, tells the true story of Dan Spargo-Mabbs, a 16-year-old who died from an MDMA overdose. The play has had a profound impact on both the young cast members and their audiences. Ever Unique Productions co-founders and co-directors Hannah Reilly and Martina McAfee were eager to bring the play to more young people in Northern Ireland.
Donations to cover the remaining costs of the tour can be made through the DSM Foundation’s website. Sandra Larmour, speaking about the foundation’s work, said, “Whilst I will never condone drug use, I fully support and endorse this important work that Fiona and her team are doing in educating and supporting school children, giving them insight and knowledge that can only be of benefit to them in making future choices.”
Sarah Mackie, co-owner of the Larchfield Estate, also commented on the need for drug education in schools, saying, “As parents, we feel the need to equip our children with the knowledge to make informed decisions in the life choices they will make as they grow up.” She also expressed her hope that the funds raised from the 2024 Larchfield Christmas Fair will raise awareness about the need for drug education in schools in Northern Ireland and provide funding to deliver this education and protect children across the region.
Martina McAfee, co-founder and co-director of Ever Unique Productions, shared her experience of performing the play, stating, “We knew this story was not just one that needed to be heard by our young people but indeed, all young people across Northern Ireland.” She also talked about how the play inspired the young cast members to be more open and honest about drugs with their peers and parents.
Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, DSM Foundation Director, Founder and Dan’s mum, expressed her delight at the success of Larchfield’s event, saying, “We’re delighted that Larchfield’s event has raised such a fantastic sum, which will cover much of the costs of bringing this new production of our play to schools across Northern Ireland.” She also mentioned the overwhelming response from schools and the potential for the foundation’s drug education program to equip young people in Northern Ireland to make safer decisions about drugs and alcohol.
The DSM Foundation, established in 2014 following the death of 16-year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, aims to provide young people with relevant, age-appropriate, and evidence-based information about drugs to help them make informed decisions and keep themselves and their friends safe. The charity is currently working in around 750 schools, colleges, and community organizations across England and Scotland, providing workshops for children, parents, and caregivers, and training for school and college staff. The foundation also offers resources and workshops centered around their play, ‘I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’, which is a GCSE Drama set text. Schools and colleges can also access age-appropriate, relevant, and evidence-based drugs education lesson resources for free from the charity’s website.
For more information about the DSM Foundation and their work, visit https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/. Media inquiries about this press release or the work of the DSM Foundation can be directed to media@dsmfoundation.org.uk.