Parents raising funds in Daragh’s memory
THE parents of Dundalk schoolboy Daragh McNally who died from cancer last November have promised to run/walk 200km in his memory during the month of June to raise funds for the Maria Goretti Foundation’s Children Respite Centre in Lordship. Daragh, who had autism, called the Centre his ‘funhouse’ and enjoyed spending time there.
Announcing their plans, his mum Colleen from Medebawn said on the six month anniversary of his death, they were going to raise the much needed funds for his beloved ‘funhouse’ as they wanted to do something in his memory and had set up a GoFundMe page.
‘ The Maria Goretti really is home from home for lot of children with special needs and the staff are their second family,’ said Colleen, added that they will be forever involved with the Foundation.
‘ They did everything for Daragh to suit his needs with love. Now Paul and I want to give back to them to help other children lie our beloved Daragh, who need help so much.’
Daragh, who was eleven years old, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer just ten days after returning home from a holiday in Spain with his family. Sadly, despite the best efforts of the medical team in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, he died five weeks later on November 24.
The family previously raised funds for the Autism Unit at Realt na Mara Primary School and the Maria Goretti centre at the Daragh’s Day event at Oriel Park.
Now, with their sponsored walk, they are hope to be able to raise more money for the children’s respite centre, and have set a goal of raising €2,000 and have already raised over half of that in two days. Donations can be made to daraghs-funhouse campaign on GoFundMe