Images source: Lily Daly Foundation
A major sporting challenge to raise funds for two charity organisations which provided great care and support to a Killarney child is being planned for Saturday, September 16.
All proceeds from Lily’s Pink Challenge will go to the Heart Centre in Crumlin Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, also in Dublin.
Both recipients help and support sick children and their families and have a very strong association to the Lily Daly Foundation and the Daly family from Firies.
Born in June 2019, Lily was just seven weeks old when she entered into a world that became so familiar for her and her parents for the next two years and that was at the Heart Centre in CHI Crumlin.
Lily had her first open heart surgery at 10 weeks old and later was diagnosed with a very rare condition known as Pulmonary Vein Stenosis for which there is no cure.
Following several procedures and interventions, including further open-heart surgery in the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Lily Daly’s blue eyes closed for the last time on 26 February 2021.
During her brave battle, Lily and her parents had several trips to the Heart Centre in Crumlin and on long-term stays her mum and dad were fortunate to avail of the services of the Ronald McDonald House which became a home away from home.
Her devastated parents vowed to keep Lily’s memory alive by helping other parents and families with sick children and the Lily Daly Foundation was initiated. The family plans to run events over the next few years and the Lily’s Pink Challenge fundraiser will be the start of it all.
The Lily Daly Foundation’s primary mission and purpose is to support parents when a child is in hospital with heart-related issues.
The Killarney fundraising event will consist of a 60k cycle and a 10k run and participants have the option of completing both the run and the cycle or to contribute to a relay event. There will also be the option to walk or run the 10k at a pace to suit the individual.
Starting at Killarney Racecourse, the route will travel through Fossa, the Gap Road, Kate Kearney’s Cottage, through Gap of Dunloe and into the Black Valley. It will then proceed to the R568, taking a left on the main N71 road back to the racecourse in Killarney.
On the return leg of the journey, participants will commence the 10k run or hand over the reins to their relay partner. The run is a circular route starting at Killarney Racecourse with a loop of Ross Island, entering Killarney National Park and finishing back at the racecourse.
Anyone who opts only to take part in the 10k walk or run will follow the same route as the 10k run. All routes will be marshalled and medical cover will be available
To register for the event go to https://lilydalyfoundation.ie/.
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