Tracey Wilkie records a video clip on the long journey.
A LETTERKENNY couple have hit their fundraising target of €10,000 as they trek from Donegal to Dingle to raise funds for the two charities that helped them and their daughter Aria Rose through the short 16 months she was on this earth.
Tracey Wilkie, her partner Shane Barry and her son Brandon and friend John Doherty headed off on Saturday with their two horses to trek the 450 km along the country’s roads to where the family would have holidayed in the past – in Dingle.
Speaking to the Donegal News on Tuesday Tracey was overwhelmed by the warm welcome they were receiving in every town and village they passed through.
There was no want of offers of accommodation for them and their horses along the route.
“We even had blacksmiths contacting other blacksmiths along the route to ensure our horses were in good fettle for the trip.
“We chose Dingle as our destination as that is where we would have holidayed and had hoped to one day bring Aria on holiday,” Tracey said.
She explained that Aria was born with very complex needs and doctors had not expected her to live more than three months.
However, she defied their predictions and lived for 16 months thanks to the wonderful care of staff in Sligo University Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin.
Sadly she died on February 17 this year.
See Thursday’s edition of the Donegal News for full coverage.
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