An inspirational young man in Dublin raised a fantastic €7,000 this week for Carrigart girl Ellie McHugh’s wish to walk.
Ellie, aged nine, has been a wheelchair user all her life as a result of intensive cancer treatment as a baby.
It is Ellie’s wish to walk in 2022, with the help of an intensive therapy programme at the NAPA Centre, Los Angeles. Ever since she was accepted into the programme for October 2022, her family have been eagerly fundraising to cover the costs.
The ‘Ellie’s Wish to Walk’ campaign has gained huge traction in recent weeks with sea dips, car washes, raffles and many more fundraisers taking place in Donegal. The excitement soon reached one kind-hearted stranger in Dublin, Matt Meagher.
Matt, who had no connection to Ellie, decided to walk an incredible 360km over 12 days to give Ellie her best chance to do something many of us take for granted – walking.
Ellie and Matt in Dublin
Matt’s inspiration was a combination of personal motivation and a desire to help someone special. He was doing his assignments for college when, amid the pressure and deadlines, he realised how little sleep he actually needed. He set himself a goal of walking 5km every 4 hours for 12 days. He searched through the GoFundMe crowdfunding website for a cause to support and was drawn to Ellie’s story. Through his own walking challenge, he wanted to give someone else the ability to walk. Visit Matt’s GoFundMe page here: https://gofund.me/44313848
Matt, with the support of Ellie’s family in Donegal, completed the final stage of his challenge in Dublin on Saturday. Ellie’s family, including her grandparents Margaret and Joe, were delighted to meet Matt, his family and friends for the first time.
The final day of Matt’s 360km fundraising walk. Photo: Ellie’s Wish To Walk Facebook
The final day of Matt’s 360km fundraising walk. Photo: Ellie’s Wish To Walk Facebook
“We actually believe in all true acts of complete kindness, and this is just one that has come upon us over the month of January,” said Aoife Connor, first cousin to Ellie’s mum Aisling.
Aoife, her sister Roisin and their cousin Nicola Coyle have been braving the elements to drum up support for Ellie’s Wish to Walk. Every day throughout January they have been taking a dip in the sea – in rain, hail or shine. The ‘Daring Dippers’ have received huge support from their local community, and hope to have Matt join them on their final plunge on 31st January.
Find out more about Ellie’s Wish to Walk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076788842156
Donate or share the GoFundMe campaign here: https://gofund.me/b03e0e99
