£1,000 raised for baby Cian

£1,000 raised for baby Cian

1 April 2015

THE Donard Fundraising Group has handed over a £1,000 donation to the family of baby Cian McEvoy.

Cian, who has a rare congenital heart condition, has spent much of his young life in and out of hospital undergoing tests and major surgery.

He is due to celebrate his first birthday later this month.

Cian’s condition is known as congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA), which means that part of his heart is on the opposite side to what is normal.  In addition, he has a ventricular septal defect, which means the wall dividing the left and right heart ventricles is defective. He also has an ineffective heart valve and an irregular heartbeat.

Cian is due to undergo a major operation known as a ‘double switch’— a complex procedure that will see surgeons swap the two main arteries leading into the heart. 

Donard Fundraising Group volunteer Roisin Kelly said they were delighted to be able to help Cian’s Castlewellan family.

“It is truly heart-warming and inspiring for our group to be able to help this adorable and extremely brave wee child, in any way we can, before and after his upcoming major heart surgeries and aftercare,” she said.

The group have also extended thanks to the Fresh Food Centre Castlewellan for allowing them to do a store collection on Saturday, part of which will be donated to help support Cian and his parents Lauren and Gerard.

The Donard Fundraising Group is currently running a grand prize draw with Top Gear driver, The Stig’s rare autographed gloves, framed and surrounded with some of his private photographs with racing legends Micheal Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and world famous celebrities. Also on offer are prize tickets to The Irish Open, Brendan O’Carroll’s show in Belfast, pleasure flights across County Down, a £200 Gift Voucher to Go Nutts at Dundrod up for winning.  Raffle tickets at £1 a square are available in many local businesses or from the group’s volunteers. 

Part of the money raised from this raffle will be helping baby Cian as well as the other causes such as Marie Curie, P.I.P.S/MYMY and our public heart defibrillator projects.