By Róise Collins
A Gaoth Dobhair family are preparing to climb Errigal Mountain this weekend to make their son Rory’s very special dream come true.
Six year old Rory McDevitt has Cerebral Palsy, a physical disability, as well as a number of other medical issues, so this weekend’s climb will be no small feat.
Members of the Donegal Mountain Rescue, An Garda Siochana and local paramedics are all volunteering on the day to make sure Rory gets to the top of the 750 meter high mountain safely.
His mum Claire will carry his medical equipment, which includes a feeding pump, a heart monitor, and an oxygen monitor. His dad Alan will be carrying Rory to the top, with the help of a specially made carrier.
“The medical equipment together weighs about 5 kilos but this is nothing compared to what his daddy is carrying, Rory along with carrier you are broaching on 27 to 30 kilos,” Claire explained.
The carrier made for children and adults with physical disabilities was generously donated to the McDevitt’s from another family in the north.
Rory is still a little anxious getting into the carrier but once he’s up on his dad’s shoulders he can see the world from a whole new perspective.
“He thinks he is going to see the whole universe from the top of Errigal,” his mum added.
“Rory has been asking to climb Errigal since myself, my husband and my other kids climbed for Up the Hill for Jack and Jill back in 2021. We left Rory with his nurse that day and he was not one bit impressed,” Claire said.
Two years later and Rory’s eagerness has not wavered. Every time they pass Errigal he tells his family how he wants to climb “the big mountain”.
Claire told the Donegal News about how the family have endured a very turbulent few years which has inspired them to live life to the fullest.
“We had a really bad time before Christmas. We didn’t imagine having him home before Christmas never mind having him home before July.
“So when we had him home before Christmas, we decided this is it, we have to do all the things we can to make these memories together.
“Through covid, through sickness and through anxiety of his conditions we always found ourselves saying maybe we shouldn’t do that. But now I feel we have really come full circle and realised that time is precious.
“So we are just seizing the day and getting out there and doing all the things Rory wants to do by trying not to let the physical and the medical hold us back- if we can do it safely then we will do it, and we have a good team around us to make sure that it’s done safely,” she said.
The McDevitt family said that realising Rory’s dream of climbing “the big mountain” was a great opportunity to give back to the Little Blue Heroes, a charity they described as a lifeline when Rory was hospitalised for 10 weeks late last year.
They are also raising money for three families within the community, who are fundraising for equipment and adaptations to their homes.
Rory’s Climb for Heroes will take place this Sunday, August 20. The climb is weather dependent and is looking promising so far, but we will put the child of Prague out on Saturday night just in case, Claire laughed.
Those participating have been asked to meet in the Errigal car park for 10.30. Throughout the climb there will also be refreshments and face painting available at the foot of the mountain.
“Everyone is welcome but we don’t want people to feel like they have to climb, they can instead show their support at the bottom,” Claire said.
There will be buckets for cash donations on the day, “or if anyone wants to bring a tray of sandwiches we won’t turn them away,” she added.
You can follow the McDevitt’s journey on social media for live updates on the day at @imstilllearning_mumof4 on Instagram or Claire Louise McDevitt on Facebook, and if you can’t make it on the day you can donate online at Rory’s Climb for Heroes on iDonate.
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