Charity
Sensory Room at St. Gabriel’s Respite House launched in memory of Cillian Shanahan
Cillian Shanahan parents Michelle and Myles Shanahan pictured above at the launch of Cillian’s sensory room St Gabriel’s Children’s Respite House.
‘Cillian’s Sensory Room’ will bring joy to the children
In August 2022, Myles Shanahan, a Northern Trust employee, undertook a cycling challenge, in memory of his son, Cillian Shanahan, who passed away in 2019 when he was only two years old. This was to raise funds for St. Gabriel’s Children’s School and Respite House.
Supported by his work colleagues and great neighbours and friends, Myles took to the roads over the course of a month in August around the Mid-West and cycled 713 miles to mark the cherished number of days of the life of Cillian Shanahan. Over €16,000 has been raised from this fundraiser.
Myles said, “I am very glad to have been able to do the cycling fundraiser again this year. St. Gabriel’s holds a special place in our lives as my other son goes to school there. I know that this Sensory Room, which will forever more be called ‘Cillian’s Sensory Room’, will bring joy to other children that use it”
Acknowledging the great efforts that Myles went to make this happen, St. Gabriel’s Chief Executive, Treasa McAuliffe said, “The dedication to the memory of Cillian Shanahan here today is an excerpt from a poem about children’s lives – “Make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself.” There is something special about this room that will bring so much pleasure to children. Cillian’s legacy will have such meaningful impact on the children attending St. Gabriel’s. We are very grateful to Myles and Michelle for thinking of others and we are delighted that Cillian will be forever part of St. Gabriel’s.
St. Gabriel’s Foundation is a not-for-profit and registered charity located in Dooradoyle that caters to children with physical disabilities between the ages of four and 18. Its mission is to provide pupils with an education that is challenging and appropriate to their needs in a safe and caring environment. The whole ethos of St. Gabriel’s is to improve the lives of people living with disabilities, helping them to reach their full potential and to support their families at the same time. They meet these needs through the provision of clinical therapies, education, respite, orthotics, and hydrotherapy.
For further information about the work St. Gabriel’s does, go HERE
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