‘An incredibly difficult year’: Northern Ireland family-run car dealership turns heartbreak into fundraiser in memory of 29-year-old Alex

A Ballyclare family-run car dealership is turning a year of heartbreak into a chance to support other families, donating £100 from every vehicle sold in October to the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Antrim Area Hospital.

Stephen Mawhinney Motors has launched the month-long fundraiser in memory of Alex Cupples Mawhinney, the much-loved stepson of founder and managing director Stephen Mawhinney, who died aged 29 on May 1 following a long battle with a brain tumour.

Alex, from Ballyclare, was not only part of the Mawhinney family but also part of the family business, working alongside Stephen and his brother Rhys for many years.

His death has left a deep sense of loss within both the family and the dealership, where colleagues and customers had come to know him over the years.

During the final weeks of his illness, Alex and his family were cared for by the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Antrim Area Hospital.

Now, as the business marks its 35th year, the Mawhinney family is giving back to the team that supported them through one of the most difficult periods of their lives.

Stephen explained: “It has been an incredibly difficult year for our family. Alex was a huge part of our lives and of the business. He worked alongside us for years and had his own relationships with our staff and customers, so his loss has been felt deeply by everyone here.

“The care Alex and our family received during those last weeks meant more than we can put into words. You never really understand how important that support is until your own family needs it, so we wanted to do something in Alex’s memory that would help other families facing the same unimaginable circumstances.”

The family hopes the fundraiser will allow them to honour Alex while helping other families facing similar circumstances.

Stephen continued: “Throughout October, for every car we sell, we will donate £100 to the Macmillan Unit at Antrim Area Hospital. We hope our customers will get behind us and help us make it a really meaningful total in his name.”

The fundraiser comes during a landmark year for Stephen Mawhinney Motors, which was founded by Stephen in 1991 and has grown from a local dealership into an established new and used-car specialist serving customers in Ballyclare and beyond.

The business has continued to invest during its 35th year, spending more than £75,000 on its Mill Road premises.

The investment included a refurbished workshop, redesigned reception and customer areas, improved meeting spaces and refreshed branding, alongside increased investment in digital technology and online customer services.

Its family ethos also extends across the wider team. Stephen’s son Rhys now plays an integral role in the business, while sales manager Thomas Duncan has been with the dealership for 33 years and technician Jonathan Snoddy for 30 years.

For Stephen, however, the anniversary has taken on a different meaning following the loss of Alex.

He added: “Thirty-five years is an important milestone and naturally makes you reflect on how much the business has changed and grown. But this year has also reminded us very powerfully about what really matters.”