Tom tees up charity fundraiser

FORMER COUNCILLOR PARALYSED AS A CHILD PLANS MAJOR GOLF CLASSIC

A FORMER Killarney Town Councillor who was temporarily paralysed as a child is to hold a charity golf classic this weekend to help raise funds for the National Rehabilitation Clinic in Dublin.

Tom Doherty’s accident in the mid 1980s caused severe damage to his spinal cord, leaving him paralysed from the chest down for two weeks before regaining movement.

Late last year, Tom returned to the national rehabilitation hospital for a major check-up and this led to the inspiration for this event - a charity golf classic in Killeen Championship Golf Course on this Saturday, August 8.

“The hard word, new life goals and challenges of the patients to adapt to their new daily living skills is greatly enhanced by the dedicated of the wonderful staff With the National Rehabilitation Clinic being such a specialised hospital, new and updated equipment is always need,” he said.

“I was completely paralysed from the chest down for two weeks before I started to get movement back starting with my big toe on my right foot.

“Thirty years later, I re-entered the front doors of the national rehabilitation hospital and the sounds, the smells, the memories came flooding back in my mind like a Sunami.”

The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient specialist rehabilitation services to patients who have acquired a physical or cognitive disability as a result of an accident, illness or injury and who require specialist medical rehabilitation.

The centre holds a very special place in Tom’s heart and he knows of many other people and families throughout the county who have been affected with serious injury and have spent time in the NRH.

“There are no shortcuts in rehabilitation. You have to work hard; the staff have to work hard. It’s a team effort,” he said.

“Places like this always need more resources. I know this first hand. Your support for the golf classic would be greatly appreciated”.

Tom is now calling on all Killarney locals and businesses to support this event with the cost for a team of four - either lades, gents or mixed - €250 and can consist of men, ladies or mixed.

The event has already attracted many sponsors from various businesses throughout the county, but Tom is still urging as many people as possible to support this event.

“It’s a fun day out for anyone with an interest in golf with an opportunity to play on a world class golf course,” Tom said.

As well as that there will be refreshments, BBQ and lots of prizes to be won on the day.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a team or would like more information about this very special event can contact Tom on 087-2942260 or email tomkillarney@gmail.com

Former Councillor Tom Doherty