Laois dad of boy with Autism takes on Malin to Mizen fundraiser
The dad of a little Laois boy with Autism is going to extraordinary lengths for him this July, and seeking public support.
Dermot McGann from Ballacolla is going to walk from the very top of Ireland to the bottom, Malin Head to Mizen Head, a distance of 360 miles.
He sets off on July 10 and hopes to have it done in 13 days, calling it Walk for Talk.
A seasoned marathon runner, Dermot is sticking to walking this time to ensure he can go the epic distance.
it is all for his son Tom, 6, and other children with Autism, to raise awareness of the lack of adequate Government and HSE support and raise money for vital services.
"Myself and my wife Kay have really been disappointed and frustrated at the support, services and waiting lists out there both publicly and privately as is the case with a lot of families," Dermot says in his online fundraising page. See link below story.
Dermot told the Leinster Express / Laois Live more.
"We have two little boys. Jack goes to the local school in Ballacolla but Tom has to go to one in Durrow because there is no ASD unit in Ballacolla. The most heartbreaking thing is he won't know anybody in his own town of his age group, to go to birthday parties, or say hello to him in the street.
"He was diagnosed when he was aged three and we feel he has fallen through the crack of Covid for accessing services. We don't know where to go. We are at the mercy of paying for private therapies and appointments are limited," he said.
He and his wife Kay describe Tom as pre-verbal rather than non-verbal, because they hope that with the right therapy he will learn to talk.
"Everybody knows about the long waiting lists and the frustration but every child should be able to go to school in their own village. It's hard enough growing up with Autism but worse not knowing anyone in your community. It just makes him more isolated. Some people in Ballacolla didn't even know we had Tom, they only see Jack in school or at football training," the dad said.
They have found support lately in the Laois Offaly Families for Autism support group.
"We have just joined LOFFA and they are just brilliant," he said.
"I am going to walk from Malin Head to Mizen Head the length of Ireland 360 miles starting the 10th of July to fight tooth and toenails to give all these little boys and girls a voice.
"This is not a walk about negativity but more positivity as since autism has come in to our lives we have met so many people in this area who go over and above what they have to do to try and help Tom and we are so grateful. So it’s not the people in the system, it’s the system," he explains.
Kay and the boys will be waiting for him on the coast in Cork when he arrives footsore.
"I've booked B&Bs along the way, our families will be joining me here and there to walk with me. And a friend with a campervan will join along the way. I hope to walk 28 miles a day on average," Dermot said.
He is very grateful to all the local businesses who have supplied equipment for his journey.
His fundraising page on iDonate.ie is in aid of AsIAm Ireland's National Autism Charity, LOFFA, Our Lady’s Meadow School Durrow and Laois Riding for the Disabled.
Already it has reached over €12,000.
"Please if you can donate, share and support, it might be just the price of a coffee or a roll but it might mean someday some little boy or girl can walk into a shop and ask for the same," Dermot said.