By Róise Collins
AS darkness sweeps around the globe on Wednesday November 15, thousands of people across the world will pull on their running shoes and red flashing armbands to complete a 5k run, wheel or walk.
This is part of a global movement lighting up the night to help cure paralysis.
The Run in the Dark Donegal team, which is being led by local woman Sonia McGarvey, will gather at Amharclann Gaoth Dobhair at 8pm.
All funds raised on the night will go toward the Mark Pollock Trust who are exploring the frontiers of recovery for people with spinal cord injuries.
Sonia, an occupational therapist with No Barriers Foundation in Letterkenny, is originally from Kilmacrennan, she has hosted five previous Run in the Dark events across the county and has successfully fundraised over €16,000 for the charity which is close to her heart.
Over 15 years ago, Sonia and her two children, Noirin who was 4 years old and Aodan who was just 2 years old were driving to their grandmother’s house when a car veered across the road and hit them head on, causing a devastating collision.
The back seat where Noirin was sitting had suffered the worst impact from the crash. She suffered a life changing spinal cord injury, which left her wheelchair bound.
“I approached Mark Pollock years ago when Noirin was quite unwell in the early days of her recovery from her spinal injury to see what I could do to help find a cure for spinal cord injury,” Sonia told the Donegal News.
Sonia said there are two people living close to them who have also suffered from a spinal cord injury, including one person who was recently injured, so she will continue to do everything she can to support the important cause which offers hope and support to people learning to live with a spinal cord injury.
Sonia said that their family are “forever indebted” to their local community in both Gaoth Dobhair and Kilmacrennan for their support since Noirin was first injured.
“They really pulled through and supported us emotionally and financially. They made sure we had the funds to get the treatment abroad for Noirin, to make adaptations to the house and to make sure she had the equipment she needed to be able to live a life as good as possible.
“So in a way this is us giving back to other people who are injured now, to make sure they have the support that they need and so they have the opportunity to avail of any treatments that may come to fruition through the Mark Pollock Trust.”
Noirin who is now 19 years old has “come on leaps and bounds”. She is in her second year of University at ATU Letterkenny where she studies Law and Criminology. She is also living completely independently in her own apartment.
Her mother proudly described her as “absolutely brilliant”.
Run in the Dark a 5K run/ wheel/walk will start at 8pm from the Amharclann Gaoth Dobhair this Wednesday, October 15.
Refreshments will be served afterwards and your support will be greatly appreciated. More information is available on https://www.runinthedark.org/event/
gweedore/.
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