The prospect of yet another lockdown has cast a shadow over the country but for one lucky individual, the new year will get off to the best possible start.
This Saturday, January 2, in Dysart Hall, courtesy of a fundraising initiative hosted in aid of Noah and Rowan Benson Gately, two young boys from Dysart in South Roscommon who were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD ) early this year, there will be one proud winner of a brand new Volkswagen Golf, thanks to the support of Michael Moore Car Sales and DPD Ireland.
The Noah and Rowan Benson Gately Support Group was established to help the family in their bid to give the two boys as normal a childhood as is possible, while also helping out in research to fight DMD.
This draw was launched in October in the showrooms of Michael Moore Car Sales in Athlone, and has proved incredibly popular, thanks in no small part to the committed efforts of Michael Moore Car Sales, and fellow sponsors DPD Ireland.
All physical ticket sales have now finished, but anyone wishing to get their name in the draw or to support this incredibly worthy cause can do so by logging on to winagolf.ie, where tickets will remain on sale up until shortly before the draw, which is due to take place at lunchtime. The event will be live streamed on https://www.facebook.com/Supportnoahandrowan.
Chairperson of the support group, Aidan Thompson, said that they have been overwhelmed by the incredible level of support they’ve received, both locally and further afield.
“There’s no doubt that the prize has been a huge attraction for a lot of people, there are plenty of buyers out there who are dreaming that they’ll kick off the new year in a top of the range new VW Golf.
“Aside from that, people have been immensely generous. Earlier this year, not long after the Benson Gately family received the devastating news that Noah and Rowan were facing into a lifelong battle against this awful illness, the Menton family in Curraghboy suffered a huge loss of their own when Bridgetta Menton passed away in Scotland. Recently her sister Edel held a sleep out fundraiser in memory of Bridgetta and it surpassed all her expectations in terms of local support and funds raised, so she made a significant contribution to Noah and Rowan for which we’re incredibly grateful” he said.
“Acts like that, and the wholehearted support of DPD Ireland and Michael Moore Car Sales, have driven the success of this fundraiser and while somebody is going to be very happy on Saturday afternoon when they find out they’ve just won a new car, everybody involved should know that they’ve helped to support a wonderful local family through a life-changing event. Noah And Rowan will always have to live with this illness, but events like this allow us to help them live a much more normal childhood, and we cannot thank people enough for that,” Aidan commented.
