Tipperary man living with disability takes on 10km challenge to help kids sports club
Niall Walsh from Carrick-on-Suir who has cerebral palsy will walk in the Youghal Bay 10km event to raise funds for Réalta Sports Club for Children with Special Needs
A 36-year-old Carrick-on-Suir man living with cerebral palsy is following up his achievement in completing a 10km walk in Limerick two months ago by taking on another 10km event next month to raise funds for a sports club for children with special needs in his hometown.
Niall Walsh from Ballyrichard Court in Carrick is busy training to walk the Youghal Bay 10km on August 10. He is doing the event in aid of Carrick-on-Suir’s Réalta Sports Club for Children with Special Needs.
The Bank of Ireland worker will do the walk with his friend Ian O’Dwyer and his sister Sarah O’Donnell.
He is training several times a week at the Sean Kelly Sports Centre gym in preparation for the challenge.
Niall has been greatly encouraged in taking on the Youghal Bay 10km by his successful completion of the Great Limerick Run 10km on May 3.
“The thrill of reaching the finish line in Limerick was unbelievable. I wouldn’t have played sports before and completing the 10km was like winning an All-Ireland final for me.
“It’s great to be able to do the event. A lot of people born with my disability are in a wheelchair. And to do it to raise funds for a local charity in the town is a bonus,” he added.
Donations to Niall’s fundraising campaign can be made to the Réalta Special Needs Sports Club idonate page. Sponsorship cards will also be available from Niall and from Réalta Sports Club.
Breda Tobin of Réalta Sports Club paid tribute to Niall for taking on the Youghal Bay 10km to raise funds for the club.
She said all proceeds from his fundraising campaign will go towards funding equipment and the 22-member Club’s running costs.
The three-year-old sports club will host its annual street collection in Carrick-on-Suir this Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12.
Breda said local woman, Eileen Maher, is also raising funds for the club through her raffle fundraising campaign that is supporting several local good causes.
The Club has just started its summer break after a busy few weeks during which it hosted a workshop for parents, teachers and SNAs with occupational therapist Kevin Prior of Everyday OT Ireland and a sensory play session for members hosted by the Clonmel based Sense-sational Kids Sensory Play Studio at the Swan GAA Club’s Juvenile Hall.
The Club’s activities resume in August with some summer outings. Weekly sports sessions for members will resume in early September.
The Club’s sports take place at the Swan GAA Club Juvenile hall on Wednesdays from 5pm to 6.15pm with dance session in Carrickbeg Community Centre on Fridays at 6.30pm.
Check out Réalta Special Needs Sports Club Facebook page for more information.