It’s almost a month since the country came together and did it for Dan Donoher the young baby boy the captured the nation’s heart.
With so many more children and GoFundMe campaigns from so many people around the country looking for help for so many heartfelt reasons, it almost seems impossible to decide which one to reach out to.
Trilogy Triathlon Club in Portlaoise had planned to do a fundraiser for Dan but they, like all us of us, got the magnificent news that he had reached his target.
The committee at Trilogy decided to turn their attention to some other campaigns within the local community. Like many of us trying to decide who to donate to was a difficult choice. Trilogy decided to run two fundraisers, two campaigns back to back.
The first campaign finished on Saturday, May 23, where the club raised money for the Martina Cahill’s Lyme disease fund.
The club raised over €1,500 for Martina’s fund and they hope it will help in her endeavours to get the treatment she desperately needs in Germany.
The second campaign began on Sunday, May 24, and it will run for three weeks.
This campaign is raising much needed funds for the Jamie wants to Walk Campaign.
Jamie Mannion is an amazing little boy who lives in Portlaoise and will be eight years old in July this year. To date his family await his first independent step.
To do this Jamie needs intensive therapy consisting of four hours a day for three full weeks in the amazing experienced Napa Centre in America who have the expertise, technology and equipment to support Jamie in the goal of taking his first steps.
Jamie is nearly half way to his target and Trilogy Triathlon Club want to push Jamie’s fundraising in the right direction. The club are appealing to everyone to ‘Tri-it’ or ‘5km’ it for Jamie.
The Tri-it challenge involves 50 Burpees or Jumping Jacks, a 20km cycle and a 5km walk/run.
The challenge does not have to be completed in the one day, it can be completed over a few days or a few weeks.
The club are encouraging the community in Portlaoise to get involved and possibly even complete it as a family.
Ken and Helena Gleeson completed their first triathlon together on Sunday along with their two young boys on bikes! What an achievement for them and for the campaign.
Once you complete your challenge the club would ask you to kindly donate directly to the fundraiser on the main Trilogy Triathlon Facebook Page, every cent and euro counts for Jamie.
The 5km challenge the club are asking you to Walk/Run 5km, Donate €5 and nominate five people, since lockdown most people go for walks in the sunny evenings or at the weekend and the club encourages you the next time you are out to complete your walk and donate to the clubs fundraiser on behalf of Jamie.
Pam Grogan from Trilogy set up the fundraiser along side her club mate Sharon Roche.
Pam said: “I first met Jamie at the school pick up about four years ago.
“Jamie’s older brother Ryan attends the same school as my boys, I’ve seen all the work Siobhan and Declan have put into Jamie over the years they truly are exceptional parents and are relentless in their efforts to get Jamie the help he needs.
“So please check out Trilogy’s Facebook and Instagram pages where the challenge is live.
“We as a community came together and we did it for Dan, now let’s regroup and try it for Jamie #TriitforJamie and send this lovely blue eyed boy to America to get his intensive treatment to help him take his first step and walk.”
You can donate to this fundraiser here.
SEE ALSO – ‘Cans at lunch’: Investigation underway as prison officers reported for drinking in car park
