South East fundraising drive to make Noah’s ‘wish to walk’ dream come true
BIG-HEARTED members of the public from across the South East have launched a series of innovative fundraising drives to help a brave boy undergo life-saving surgery in the US.
Noah O’Sullivan (4) was born at just 29 weeks old and diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy 18 months later. He has survived two brain bleeds, hydrocephalus and meningitis.
Noah’s parents launched a fundraiser to support Noah’s “wish to walk” and to help him get to the US for surgery after discovering he was eligible for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery, which could give him the chance to learn to walk independently.
Due to his condition, Noah is unable to sit freely or comfortably without a chair and has poor balance.
Noah’s parents, Debbie and David O’Sullivan, from Co Waterford, were overjoyed when he was accepted for the surgery last year.
The surgery is expected to cost around €55,000. His family are aiming to raise €100,000 to cover the cost of the surgery, transport to St Louis and for three years intensive post-op rehabilitative physio therapy.
Noah’s family have been overwhelmed by the response from friends and members of the public who have launched a range of fundraising activities to raise money for Noah.
These include a ‘Motivational Night for Noah’ event, which will take place on February 16. A sponsored climb of Ireland’s highest mountain, Carauntoohil in Co Kerry, will get underway on April 13.
Debbie said: “We have so many great people taking on different events for Noah, and we could not be more grateful for the support we have received so far.”
*For more information on Noah’s Wish To Walk, visit: www.wishtowalk.ie
