Appeal for injured Dessie

Charleville GAA Club is continuing efforts to get the public involved in a major fundraiser for injured clubman Dessie Fitzgerald. As was first reported in the Cork Independent on 9 February, Dessie was a key member of the Junior hurling team which recently made an appearance in the Club All-Ireland Final, until he suffered a serious spinal injury last October while playing for Charleville versus Kilbrin. Dessie has since been in the care of the Mater Hospital in Dublin and he is currently staying in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

Charleville GAA have since launched a major fundraiser to help support Dessie in his recovery and one of the chief organisers, Tadhg O’Connell, says that so far there has been a fantastic response from the public.

“We are running a golf classic on on 11 and 13 of April which will be held in Charleville Golf Club and we are asking people to enter a team. The cost of a team is €300 for a team of four people and the demand for spots so far, is so big that we are now trying to organise a third day as well. The response has been phenomanal. We knew, given the nature of the fundraiser that people would be more than willing to help out but there are literally people from every corner of the country in contact with us which is great.”

If playing golf isn’t for you than there is also the opportunity to sponsor a tee or a green at a cost of €100.

“People don’t have to interested in golf to take part in this fundraiser,” says Tadhg, “we just want as many people as possible to donate so we can help Dessie with his recovery. He’s an inspirational charcter who has given so much to Charleville and to Cork and this is our way to show him how much he means to everyone. There is a long road ahead for him and we want to help him as much as we possibly can so a fundraiser was the obvious anser to that one.”

Dessie is getting married on 16 March to his girlfriend Sarah but will return to the Rehabilitation Centre after his honeymoon in England. “He will need to get rehab for quite some time,’ says Tadhg, “so any money people donate will go straight to helping Dessie in his recovery. For me, it’s a no-brainer and hopefully the public will think the same and help out in any way they can.”

A Bank a/c has also been set up in AIB Charleville for anyone who would like to make a donation to the fund outside of the Golf Classic. The a/c no is 20305080 sort code 93-61-89. For more information email secetary.charleville.cork@gaa.ie or visit the website charleville.cork.gaa.ie.