CHARLIE’S CHALLENGE
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD AIMS TO WALK 150KM IN 30 DAYS
AN AUTISTIC seven-year old boy from Rathnew is determined to raise funds for The Irish Guide Dogs after his life was transformed by his assistance dog ‘Iona’.
Charlie Galligan was born in 2012 and diagnosed with autism and a cohort of other disabilities, including speech impairment and an intellectual disability. Now Charlie is aiming to walk 150km over 30 days in order to help raise funds for The Irish Guide Dogs, who are due to lose between €2.5 million and €3.5 million in fundraising this year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
His mother Rebecca said: ‘We have been one of the lucky families who have benefited from receiving an assistance dog from the Irish Guides Dogs and we just hated the idea of other families like ours missing out. As a result we wanted to do something to help raise awareness and much needed funds.’
A GoFundMe page has been established and Charlie has already started his challenge.
‘Charlie is loving it. He skips along as he does his 10k each day,’ added Rebecca.
AN AUTISTIC seven-year old boy from Rathnew is determined to raise funds for The Irish Guide Dogs after his life was transformed when he was first introduced to his own assistance dog named ‘Iona’.
Charlie Galligan was born in 2012 and diagnosed with autism and a cohort of other disabilities, including speech impairment and an intellectual disability. He has attended Wicklow Educate Together’s Autism Unit for the past four years.
Charlie’s mother is Rebecca Galligan, the Vice Chair of Wicklow Triple A Alliance who offer support to families and individuals affected by Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD.
The family applied for the Assistance Dog Programme in 2016, and Charlie was matched with ‘Iona’ in June of 2017.
Explaining the impact of Iona, Rebecca said: ‘Before Iona arrived Charlie couldn’t walk very far, he had very low muscle tone due to having to be kept in a buggy any time we went out because he would bolt. We also couldn’t join in a lot of family events as he would become totally over loaded. However since Iona’s arrival he can walk all day and enjoys it once he is attached to her, so we can go for family meals out and I no longer worry for his safety. As once he is attached he can’t run anywhere.’
Since the Covid-19 lockdown, the thing Charlie looks forward to the most each day is his walk. Bearing this in mind, and also considering Rebecca wouldn’t be able to run the Dublin marathon this year, the pair decided to turn their attention to Irish Guide Dogs. The organisation is due to lose between €2.5 million and €3.5 million in fundraising this year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘We have been one of the lucky families who have benefited from receiving an assistance dog from the Irish Guides Dogs and we just hated the idea of other families like ours missing out. As a result we wanted to do something to help raise awareness and much needed funds,’ added Geraldine.
They established a GoFundMe page and Charlie has challenged himself to walk 150km over 30 days within the 2km zone.
‘He is already doing great. Family and friends have been so supportive and Charlie is loving it. He skips along as he does his 10k each day.
‘He and my husband Bryan head out each day. Through my involvement with Wicklow Triple A Alliance I know myself how much families benefit from an assistance dog, and I also know other families who are still waiting.
‘There are huge delays in the waiting list and The Irish Guide Dogs need funding to be able to provide the dogs. Guide Dog Day was this Friday and that is usually the main fundraiser for the organisation, but obviously this year things have been curtailed by the Covid-19 restrictions. They provide a brilliant service and we want to help in any way we can.’
To donate to Charlie’s challenge just visit www. gofundme.com/f/charlies-walking-challenge-for-igd.