Charity
Second Annual Sophie Mulcahy Memorial Cycle raises over 3000 Euro
The second annual Sophie Mulcahy Memorial Cycle took place on Sunday, October 16, helping to raise much-needed funds for St. Gabriel’s School.
The 70km cycle left the Deebert House Hotel on the Sunday morning. With an entry fee of 20 Euro and over 160 cyclists, the Second Annual Sophie Mulcahy Memorial Cycle helped raise over €3,000 for St Gabriel’s School Projects.
St.Gabriel’s School & Centre provides education and a range of essential health-related therapies and interventions for up to 400 children and young adults living with multiple physical disabilities, sensory and/or developmental delay or more serious life-limiting conditions.
Current projects St. Gabriel’s School & Centre are undertaking include the building of a Resource and Respite House that would provide short-term residential break for families where their child is cared for. The €3,000 raised on the day will go towards the five-bedroom respite centre. Speaking previously to ilovelimerick, Sophie’s Journey Foundation founder, Liam Mulcahy spoke of the importance of increased respite care in Limerick:
“I know there is already a few services coming together, but I feel Limerick is missing something. As a parent that had a child with a disability; respite and time to spend with other kids is immensely valuable. It is not easy, any parent will tell you having a child with a disability or who is really sick.”
Sophie was born on the 12th July 2006 in the Coombe Maternity Hospital and was immediately Transferred to Our Lady’s Children’s where she would have an amazing 6 heart operations in 7 months of her short life.
Sophie spent the majority of her stay in Cardiac ICU 2 ventilated fighting battle after battle. Sophie was diagnosed with a rare condition called Ohdo syndrome but on a re-diagnoses in Manchester in 2012 it was founded Sophie had a rare condition called 1Q43. This condition, along with her 7 months in Crumlin left Sophie unable to walk, talk or feed herself.
Throughout her short few years, Sophie inspired so many people to achieve the impossible and she was at the center of many events that brought people together. Anyone who knew her well; were touched by her.
Liam and Stacey, Sophie’s parents, started fundraising in 2007 to thank the organizations who saved her life and helped raise huge funds that went to families to help with the children’s needs. Sophie’s family now give a 100 percent commitment to Sophie’s Journey Foundation in memory of Sophie’s Legacy and to help improve the conditions that families with children with life-limiting illness endure on a daily basis.
You can find more information on Sophie’s Journey Foundation here.
Here you can find past stories about Sophie’s Journey Foundation