THE community in Dublin 15 is rallying around a severely disabled local six-year-old girl to raise funds for a specially adapted car that will greatly improve her life
Little Kym, from Clonsilla, contracted meningitis just two weeks after she was born and was left severely mentally and physically disabled.
She is now wheelchair bound as well as completely blind and despite getting the best of care from her loving parents, sisters, family and friends, her needs continue to grow. The modest saloon car the family drive has become completely unsuitable for Kym’s needs as she has to be lifted in and out of car seats and wheelchairs.
It’s terribly uncomfortable for the little girl and is causing her parents significant back problems.
The situation is unsustainable, especially as Kym is still a growing child.
But the tight-knit community in Dublin 15 has now come together to fundraise for Kym and her unassuming family to get the local girl the specially adapted, wheelchair accessible car she so badly needs.
“About five or six of us have come together to organise a number of events,” said Karen Jennings, who is part of the fundraising team.
“We’d love if the local community got behind this, whether by putting a few bob in the bank account or attending some of the events we have lined up.
“The family are the most dignified people you could meet. Kym is gorgeous, It’s just hearbreaking. Kym was born perfectly normal and then this happened to her.
“The family are very proud and they don’t look for anything but this is just something we want to do for them.”
The first fundraising event is a coffee morning taking place at Scoil Oilibhéir in Clonsilla on September 22 and it’s hoped local businesses will lend their support to other events.
A fun ‘Camel Racing’ night will also take place at Westmanstown Sports and Conference Centre on November 17 and there’s bucket collections and bag packing planned for local supermarkets in December.
“We are also hoping to get all the local Dublin 15 schools involved in a ‘Wear Crazy Shades for Kym’ day on Friday, November 10, where the children would design and wear their own crazy shades and bring €2 to donate to ‘A Car for Kym’,” added Karen.
“We feel this would be especially significant as Kym is blind. We would love if local schools would support this one off appeal for a local Dublin 15 family.”
The A Car for Kym campaign has a fundraising page at gofundme.com/a-wheelchair-accessible-car-for-kym.
Donations can also be made directly to the fund to Blanchardstown Credit Union, Clonsilla Road, Dublin 15. Account details are BIC BDRNIE21 and IBAN IE23BDRN 991115 10435155.
