Steven has an extra special reason to make it to the top
A BURNFORT family will be cheering their father on when he takes part in the firefighters’ fundraiser to send ill children to Euro Disney.
Steven O’Brien knows all about climbing ladders as he is a fire-fighter with 22 years experience. The fundraiser will see 400 firemen and women in the county join forces in their attempt to raise €50,000 for Cork City Hospital’s Children’s Group who aim to send 50 children to Euro Disney.
For the O’Brien family the fundraiser has a special place in their own hearts, as Steven and Vicky’s son, Aidan, who is eight years old is on dialysis and on a transplant list.
However, there could be very good news on the horizon for the family, as Vicky has identical twin sisters, Emily and Evelyn who stepped forward to donate a kidney and they are shortly undergoing further tests. However, Tommy Barrett who is married to Emily has also stepped forward and he is highly regarded as being a potential donor.
“It was so amazing for us as a family to have so much support. Imagine to have your two sister in laws who are identical twins and who are such great characters and to have Tommy also step forward is just phenomenal,” he said.
Steven told The Corkman that little Aidan has really gone through the hoops as last year he had to have one kidney removed and also went into early stages of kidney failure.
“Aidan is a great little fighter. If he gets this kidney then we’ll have the party of all parties,” Steven told The Corkman with a smile.
The couple also have a daughter Kate (14) and son Robbie (12).
Steven explained that should the transplant go ahead it will mean it will go in behind the stomach.
Indeed, Steven has been instrumental in putting together this mammoth fundraiser but he heaped praise upon all his colleagues in the county who have come together to make it work.
“Our phones haven’t stopped hopping. We are getting so much help and support from not just our colleagues but equally so the businesses community. It all means so much. It is our aim to send 50 children to Euro Disney and it costs €950 per child,” he said.
It will mean the 400 fire-fighters in the county who have joined forces for the first time for this challenge will have to do 660 ladder climbs in order to reach the same height as Mount Everest.
“We are all really looking forward to this challenge. Aidan is at the moment in Dublin at the hospital but is on his way home. Fingers crossed now, he will get his transplant. It would be just the icing on the cake as he is such a great little boy,” said Steven.