Community rally for seven-year-old Donegal boy with terminal diagnosis

A group of people will complete a climb and cycle to fundraise for a young south Donegal boy diagnosed with a rare muscle disease. 

The fundraiser for Aaron Langan from Coxtown will start at Errigal followed by a 100km cycle home to Laghey, where there will be a charity auction in the Seven Arches on Saturday, August 17. 

Aaron, who is now seven, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) when he was 18 months old. Aarons's parents Sinead, Dermot and the Gallagher/Langan families were “blindsided” by the news of the diagnosis. It is “every parent's worst nightmare,” mother Sinead says. 

DMD affects boys only and means they cannot produce a protein called Dystrophin that strengthens and repairs muscles, due to this, all of the body's muscles - including the heart - deteriorate over time. 

Despite the terminal diagnosis, Aaron is a “happy-go-lucky little boy who is full of life,” Sinead continues. “There is no cure at the minute, although Gene Therapy is looking very promising as a treatment that hopefully will see many living longer fulfilling lives, although there is still a long way to go.

You can support the GoFundMe here.

“We cannot sit and wait for that day to come and we are not sure if it will come in time for Aaron and must think of his future needs where he will need a lot of additional care.

“Thank you so much for your continued support for Aaron. The funds raised will go towards Aaron's future care needs, with donations going towards MD Ireland and Liquid Therapy.”