All the cyclists that took part in the charity cycle.
FOR MANY, a three-day cycle from Co. Antrim to Blackwater may seem like a near-impossible feat.
However one local family did just that to raise funds for the hospital that cared for their toddler when he was sick.
Peter O’Brien, along with 15 friends and family, took on the 320 km challenge as part of a mammoth fundraising operation to repay Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin for looking after his son Shea (1) while he was a patient there.
Although an arduous task, with its participants growing weary towards the end, the cycle was a huge success.
The group took off on Easter Monday, where they covered 150 km and made it to Slane, before travelling for 120 km the following day towards Tullow. On the final day they cycled 50 km to the family’s home in Blackwater, where a large group of supporters were present to cheer them on when they arrived at 2 p.m.
To make the achievement even more impressive, just the day prior to beginning the cycle, Peter and 22 of his friends partook in a charity tandem sky dive in Co. Derry, which involved them leaping from a plane at 13,000 foot.
Little Shea’s family decided to create a series of original fundraisers in order to give something back to the hospital that showed him care and love when he most needed it.
The adorable one-year-old was born in March of last year in Wexford General Hospital.
Shea while he was in hospital.
Following many fretful days in the Special Baby Care Unit, it was discovered that Shea had some problems and his parents Peter and Lizzie were informed they would have to move to Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
After a series of tests over the next few weeks, his parents were told that he had two holes in his heart and some chromosome abnormalities resulting in an unknown syndrome which will affect his future development.
However, Peter said he and his wife were confident that their son was in the right care: “As soon we were at Crumlin Children’s Hospital we were immediately put at ease and felt reassured that we were in the right place. The staff are just fantastic and manage to give you the time you need and they help you understand exactly what’s going on. I really can’t praise them enough.”
The hospital decided that Shea required major heart surgery, which he has since fully recovered from, and his delighted father said he is “going from strength to strength.”
After Shea’s successful surgery, Peter said: “Myself and Lizzie knew there and then that we had to give something back!”
The hospital is currently fundraising to build a dedicated “Critical Cardiac Care Unit”, which will provide 25 beds in age-appropriate accommodation along with improved staff and parent facilities.
To help with this cause, family and friends came together with Peter and Lizzie to think of creative ideas which would raise money.
Next on the list of events are: a White Collar Boxing Night in Whites Hotel on May 10; Take Me Out for Crumlin in Mooneys on the Quay, May 11; Golf Classic at St Helen’s Bay Golf Resort, May 17.
For more information on the Golf Classic, call Tom O’Brien 087 273 0705 or Helen’s Bay 053 91 33234. For information on the White Collar Boxing Night and Take Me Out, check out the Facebook pages.
Additionally, an AIB account has been set up for anyone who wishes to donate: Account Name: Wexford Friends of Crumlin Children; Account Number 37970068; Sort Code 93-33-41 IBAN IE08 AIBK 9333 4137 9700 68.
[For the full story, see this week’s Echo]
