Éilis Hourigan’s
Newmarket rises to the task for Dan
SUNDAY last, April 26, saw the people of Newmarket hitting the pavement for the Newmarket GAA ‘Do it for Dan’ fundraiser.
Collectively over 900km was run by the community, with just over €9,000 raised for this worthy cause.
Dan Donoher is suffering from a rare muscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1.
He has recently just turned one, and his life expectancy is barely beyond that.
Dan and his parents need help and support to raise $2.1million dollars for him to receive the medical treatment he needs in America.
The medical intervention needed is a cell infusion and is only available in the States.
Newmarket GAA PRO Luke McCarthy saw similar initiatives around the country and felt inspired to do the same here.
Within a few days he had a GoFundMe page set up, and 146 participants signed up, including more than a few celebrity guests.
“We originally set a target of 500km in a day but achieved 980.4km with 146 participants,” he said.
“We set a fundraising target of €5,000 at the start, but that has now passed €9,000.”
Respecting the current Coronavirus restrictions, many participants had to run in their own gardens or within 2km of their homes.
Sunday saw Facebook and Twitter full of photographs of runners of all ages posting their post-run pictures.
A number of inter-county players from around the country took part, including Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle, County Kerry);
Doireann O’Sullivan (Cork); Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater/ Nire, County Waterford); Deirdre O’Brien (Cork); and Paudie Foley (Crossabeg/Ballymurn, County Wexford).
Well done to everyone who took part and contributed towards this great cause.
In particular, well done to Luke for pulling the great initiative together.