WHILE you’re enjoying a well-earned break over the
Christmas holidays spare a thought for members of a Northside family who are
undertaking an ambitious fundraiser for charity.
On St Stephen’s Day Baldoyle man Hugh Duffy will walk
from Dublin to Galway to raise funds for Child Aid Ireland-India.
Three days later Hugh’s sons Ger (30) and Sean (26)
will attempt to catch up with their father on bikes.
The Duffy family is hoping to raise e15,000 to build
toilets and a shower area for children in an orphanage in India.
Hugh Duffy told Northside People:
“Myself and my wife
Susan sponsor a little girl in India and decided after eight years to visit
her.
“Because of the vastness of the country and to make
the most of our time there, we decided to sign up for some voluntary work in
Rajastan.
“We were working in the slums as lay teachers which we
found very tough at times.
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The Duffys then travelled south to Tamil Nadu and
linked up with Child Aid Ireland where they met their sponsor child Jennifer
and her family. They realised how much of a difference their sponsorship made
in these small villages.
“Over the following few weeks we visited many schools
built by Child Aid Ireland, and one in particular impacted on us,
? said Hugh.
“After playing football and other games with the
children we realised that this school housed 200 children in dormitories where
there were no toilet facilities.
“We felt compelled to do something to help. On
returning to Ireland we put our heads together with our two sons and decided to
do a sponsored walk and cycle with the help of Child Aid Ireland.
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Hugh added:
“Our aim is to raise e15,000 which is
needed to build 10 toilets and a shower area for 200 children.
“We hope to raise this money with the help of the
Irish people who we know will support us every step of the way.
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The Duffy family have also organised a few other
fundraising events to help them reach their target.