Longford and Cavan communities unite in bid to support young Gowna woman after accident

Eighteen-year-old Yanna Hartin was seriously injured as she travelled to her summer job in the Farnham Estate Hotel in Cavan.

The former Cnoc Mhuire student has been continuing her rehabilitation in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda ahead of her anticipated return home in around nine months time.

In the interim, the tight knit community of Gowna where Yanna and the Hartin name are synonymous with, have mobilised a major fundraising push that even those closest to its instigation have been blown away by.

“The response of people through donations and the amount of suggestions from people that have and are continuing to come in for fundraising ideas has been absolutely phenomenal,” said committee chairperson Ciaran Brady.

The name used to fast-track that drive, ‘Yanna’s Four Leaf Clover’ (Love, Luck, Hope and Faith) fundraiser is as much an indication of the unflinching togetherness that exists amongst the lakeside village’s local community as it does about the young woman at the centre of its initiation.

The fundraiser has also started the #CoffeeforYanna movement on social media, which sees participants sharing photos of them getting their morning coffee and donating €5 to the fundraiser.

The idea sees members of the public take a photo of themselves getting a morning coffee with the hashtag #coffee4yanna before donating €5 while also nominating four other people to follow suit.People who have participated in the movement include comedian and Dancing with the Stars' Kevin McGahern, with 2FM DJ's Carl Mullan and Jennifer Zamparelli also donating to the cause.

Her parents, former Gowna and Cavan footballer Gavin and Lukia are deeply respected members of a locality that’s steeped in footballing tradition.

Much of the 12 strong committee hail from such a backdrop with the remaining hailing from farming circles and tech giant Ericson in Athlone where Lukia previously worked.

Ciaran said the genesis behind the campaign emerged soon after news of Yanna’s accident came to light.

“At first there was shock at what had happened but that quickly turned to right, ‘What can we do to make things better?’

“The committee was really set up to put a structure on it, a timeline and to put a shape on things,” added Ciaran.

The response, as the chartered accountant acknowledged himself, has been a key source of motivation and comfort for those charged with heading up a drive to make Yanna’s return to independent community living as seamless as possible.

“She has shown remarkable maturity for somebody of 18-years-of-age,” said Ciaran.

“There has been no feeling sorry for herself and she has been in Drogheda Hospital adjusting to her new circumstances and that has raised things for the family and they have all supported her.

“Her two brothers are involved in the Gowna senior team, Seanie who played very well in the quarter-final replay (of Cavan Senior Football Championship against Killygarry) on Sunday and his brother Fionn came on as a sub.

To date and at the time or writing, the campaign, with a target of €250,000, had already amassed just shy of €93,000.

From the evidence of the huge groundswell of support and common solidarity behind Yanna’s ongoing rehabilitation, that target looks more than achievable over the weeks and months ahead.

To donate, simply follow the link: https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/ Yannasfourleafclover