A daring Donegal grandad is taking the plunge to raise funds for his baby grandaughter’s life-changing surgery in Hungary.
Patsy Mc Daid from Stralongford, Drumkeen, is going to be jumping 10,000ft from a plane this July. As extreme as the challenge is, the 61-year-old is doing it all for his granddaughter T.J. (Tina Joan) who was born with severe spina bifida meningocele. Her parents Claire and Jay want to get specialist physiotherapy for their daughter so that one day TJ will be able to walk. The skydive will see Patsy joined in the sky by Maggie and Charlie McDaid, cousins of T.J.
The family has a bumper summer of fundraising planned to raise the funds needed to get baby T.J. to the Peto Institute in Budapest for intensive physiotherapy and surgery. The costs are estimated at €100,000.
To reach the target, Claire and Jay have planned exciting events with the kind support of friends and family.
On 12th June there will be a big country gig in Voodoo Letterkenny with all funds raised going towards baby T.J.’s treatment. Martin Orr, Garda Jack Beattie and a great mix of local musicians have come onboard to support the unmissable show. Plus, family friend Catriona Hegarty and T.J.’s dad Jay will be braving a headshave live in Voodoo Bar.
Claire and Jay are urging anyone who wants to do a good deed to consider hosting an event for T.J.. Sponsorship cards are available and a new website has been set up by Dublin man Eamon O’Farrell to share TJ’s story: https://letsgettjwalking.com/
The T.J.’s Wish to Walk GoFundMe campaign continues online at: https://gofund.me/ec103c30
Claire, Jay and T.J.
T.J. is the young couple’s miracle baby. Before she was born, doctors said T.J. would have no quality of life, but Claire and Jay never lost hope. Ever since she came into the world in October 2020, T.J. has fought against the odds and has shown promising signs of movement in her legs. Claire and Jay were delighted to get her a place at the Peto Institute in Budapest and they are now waiting on an appointment date this summer.
T.J. Needham
Claire said: “Our Little Princess deserves this. If anyone wants to organise any fundraising please contact me or any family member. Big or small, all the help is needed to get TJ to Budapest in a few months. Thanks to everyone who has helped and donated so far really means a lot for our little angel to get the chance to walk and she will, little warrior.”
Visit the main fundraising page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/life-changing-treatment-for-t-j/
Get in touch with Claire via the Facebook page: Princess T.j Needham fundraising
