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Una Reilly & Don Mullan

 

The stars of the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Titanic’, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, along with director, James Cameron, are backing a campaign launched in Belfast today to help secure the future of the last living survivor of the Titanic, 97-year-old Millvina Dean.

Launched in the former Harland & Wolff drawing offices in Titanic Quarter where the Titanic was designed, the Millvina Fund aims to raise money to help pay for full-time nursing care which Miss Dean requires since she suffered serious injuries in a fall two years ago.

Irish author Don Mullan, a friend of Miss Dean, approached the US stars to lend their support. He’s also produced a limited edition photograph depicting Millvina signing a card for an autograph collector, which are selling for €500 with all proceeds going towards the Millvina Fund. His photographic exhibition has received sponsorship from Nokia. It’s believed that the Titanic trio of DiCaprio, Winslet and Cameron have donated $30,000.

A statement issued by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet said:

“We are honored to contribute to the ‘Millvina Fund’.  Our hope is that others will feel inspired by Millvina Dean’s remarkable story of survival, and hope she can rest easier in knowing that her future will become more secure through this fund.” 

Mr Mullan added:

“I laid down the challenge to the Titanic actors and directors to support the Millvina Fund and I was delighted with the generosity they have shown in meeting that challenge.

“To date 30 copies of the print have been sold and I am confident that the support of stars such as Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio will help boost interest in the prints and ensure they will sell. I am also determined to enlist the support of Celine Dion, who sang the theme tune from Titanic.”

Millvina Dean was the Titanic’s youngest passenger. She was just nine weeks old when disaster struck the ship. Her father, Bertram Dean, died in the 1912 tragedy after saving the lives of his wife and two children. Millvina’s mother returned from New York with her children to Southampton, where Millvina has spent most of her life.

The Millvina Fund The fund was set up by Una Reilly, Chairman of the Belfast Titanic Society in association with the British Titanic Society and the Titanic International Society of the United States, to help relieve Millvina from the stress of paying her care home fees.

Speaking at today’s launch, Una Reilly from Belfast Titanic Society, said:

“As the last living survivor from the most famous ship in the world, Millvina Dean has a very special place in the annals of Northern Ireland’s history and, indeed, across the globe.

“We are delighted to officially launch the Millvina Fund today. We felt it was an important initiative after hearing from Millvina how the stress and strains of having to pay her nursing fees was forcing her to sell Titanic memorabilia to raise funds.”

David Hill from the British Titanic Society said:

“I am delighted to be in Belfast today to publicly launch The Millvina Fund. I am only sorry that Charlie Haas is unable to attend. The donations we have received from those associated with James Cameron’s film and from Don Mullan are most generous. We are very grateful to them.

“We wish to make every effort to ensure this wonderful lady enjoys the rest of her very long life, confident in the knowledge that she can remain in her present home and that her ongoing care fees are secured. Donations to the fund will enable this to happen.”

Titanic Quarter Ltd, which is redeveloping the area in and around where the Titanic was built, has bought two of the portraits. Michael Graham, Titanic Quarter’s Director of Corporate Real Estate, added:

“It is an honour for Titanic Quarter to host the launch of such an important campaign especially here in the former drawing offices. I would like to pay a special thanks to Mr Mullan for all his efforts and to the Belfast, British and Titanic International Societies for their hard work in setting up the Millvina Fund. We all wish Millvina Dean all the best for the future.”