A LIMERICK trio are to take on the Berlin Marathon this month to raise funds for a little girl who requires 24-hour care.
Sharon Hayes from Galbally, Ben Murphy from Kilfinane, and Annie Dawson from Elton are to take on the Berlin Marathon in aid of Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and Lucia Bourke, a young girl with a difficult diagnosis which requires round-the-clock care.
Lucia, the daughter of Paul Bourke and Ashley Ryan, was born in October last year with a rare chromosomal abnormality called 22Q11 syndrome which brings physical and developmental problems. She also has Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, which means she has very a complex congenital heart defect.
Sharon Hayes explained that Lucia is her cousin, and she wanted to do something for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation who have been providing care to the almost one-year-old.
“My cousin Paul Bourke and his wife Ashley Ryan have a beautiful baby daughter Lucia, and we are running to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, who provides in-home nursing care for Lucia,” Ms Hayes said.
Lucia is scheduled for heart surgery in the next few months and her parents, Paul and Ashley, aren’t sure what to expect.
“We are blessed with our beautiful daughter, she is just perfect in our eyes,” Ashley said.
Sharon said that the work done by Jack and Jill has provided much needed respite for Paul and Ashley.
“If it wasn’t for Jack and Jill nurses taking care of Lucia, Paul and Ashley would be really isolated. By having those hours of respite, it gives them an opportunity to take time for themselves or to do the things the rest of us take for granted.
“In fact, only by having a Jack and Jill nurse to look after Lucia meant that both Paul and Ashley were able to attend two very important funerals this year, as sadly both Ashley’s grandmother and Paul’s father both passed away earlier this year,” Sharon said.
The Limerick trio will take on the Berlin Marathon on September 29. Those who would like to donate can do so on the groups iDonate page at idonate.ie/pvwfundraiser/11524996_preview.html.
So far they have raised more than €4,000 of their €5,000 goal.
