'Adam is determined to walk again' - Sean Dolan's host incredible fundraiser for Derry teen

Adams Roberts-Lynch is determined that he will walk again as he looks to get back on the playing pitch and repay Sean Dolan’s for a remarkable fundraising event held at the club earlier this week.

Just a few weeks ago, the Derry teenager suffered a horrific accident whilst playing with friends, which required major surgery in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. The damage done to the 13-year-old has left family members, friends and his team mates in the Sean Dolan’s U15s team deeply concerned.

However, in a typically emphatic way, the people of Creggan and beyond have come together in the time of one family’s need and held a number of fundraisers to support the Lynch—Roberts family at this difficult time. The high point came on Sunday past, when Dolan’s hosted a remarkable ‘Relay For Adam’, which consisted of a 12-hour event of walking or running around the Dolan’s pitch at Piggery Ridge, all in support of Adam, who has been deeply touched by his club’s efforts.

Those efforts have made the youngster even more determined to pull through the most difficult challenge of his life.

Adam’s father John Lynch is wowed by his son’s resilience.

“Adam is good, he’s in good spirits, and he’s working well with the NHS staff,” he said. “They have to be complimented, they are really, really good and the nurses are fabulous with him. They give him the time of the day and they are really, really good in terms of making sure that his mental health remains positive. He has developed a really strong mindset and he’s adamant that he’ll walk again.

“From the consultants to the ambulance, to the nurses to the doctors, they give him the time of day and they let him talk through what his fears are and they listen and then reply to him and that’s really, really good for him.”

It is an incredibly frightening time for Adam, and his family, but the spirit shown by the teenager in the face of a huge trauma has inspired them all.

“It’s scary and for parents, all you want to do is fix it,” John admitted. “When something like this happens, you can’t fix it, and more importantly, you can’t even answer the questions that they have, because nobody knows. It’s a matter of time and process but he’s strong and he’s got a good family built around him.

“We are lucky in that he has myself as his father, his stepmother Finnuala, his mother Leanne and his stepfather Andy and we all work together collectively to make sure that he has what he needs. It’s mad, because as a parent, you want to be strong, but we actually get our strength from him, and watching his determination and watching his ability to overcome every wee challenge. It’s unreal.”

Creative

Dolan’s came up with a very creative and unique way to honour Adam, with people from all across the city coming out to take part in the ‘Relay For Adam’.

“At the very start of this, whenever Sean Dolan’s came to us saying they wanted to do something for him, we were a wee bit iffy, but we spoke to Adam and he said that yes, he would like to see it,” John explained. “Just to see what Sean Dolan’s have done, it shows a true community spirit and that’s the backbone of this community.

“More importantly, the people of Derry and beyond and what they’ve done; we know people personally in America and Australia who have come out. The generosity is unreal and we will be forever indebted because it makes life easier for us and makes sure we can give him what he needs.

“Sean Dolan’s itself, as everybody knows, has gone through some turmoil and rebuilt their club, and part of rebuilding their club is trying to make it more inclusive, because it’s not just about GAA. They have asked what else can they do to embed themselves in this community, and they have put a walking track around the pitch to promote that, to get people back out walking within the community. It gives them that space where they can come and feel a part of that community and feel connected. It’s a great idea.”

Sunday’s event kicked off at 10am and went right through to 10pm and throughout the day there was music, refreshments and inflatables, making it a real family event.

Adam’s teammates from the U15 team completed the last hour from 9pm until 10pm in support of their friend as the day ended with a big cheer for their team mate in Belfast.

“Throughout the day, I would say we would easily be pushing a thousand people,” John reflected. “We had running clubs, we had other GAA clubs from across the city coming to support us, from family to friends to work colleagues to political representatives from all over the place. It’s been really, really heartwarming and touching to see it.

Even in his chair, he wants to get back to support Sean Dolan’s; he wants to get back and he’s asking what he can do to support his club. He already acknowledges the camaraderie of the team and the way in which they are supporting him, so he wants to get back out to see how he can help them, which is inspirational for someone his age.”