Club hosts fundraiser in honour of André, 8

TEAMMATES of an U9 GAA player who died after being hit by a car while cycling are holding a fundraiser they hope can save a life in his honour.

Carraig Óg coach and committee member Billy McCarthy is organising a cake sale at Carrigaline GAA Club tomorrow in aid of Carrigaline First Responders — from 10.30am to 1pm — as a tribute to eight-year-old André Ladeiro.

It comes almost a month after his death in Temple St on August 16 which occurred just days after the tragic accident.

Billy said that everyone was keen to help in some way following André’s death.

“There was nothing anyone could have done to save André. However, our hope is that we can raise enough funds to save another life in his memory. I contacted André’s mum and dad to see if there was anything we could do.

“There was nothing that they needed financially and they were happier for us to do something community-based. I checked and discovered that the Carrigaline First Responders had been at the scene the day of André’s accident”.

The Carrigaline man said the family have been well-regarded in the community since they moved there from Portugal.

“André’s dad César always had the children out. When I heard that a little boy had died on his bike I knew straight away that it had to be André because César was always out doing things with his kids. I can remember just hoping that it wasn’t him”.

André’s brother Tomás still plays with the U5s and returned to training weeks after the tragic event.

“André joined the U9s after seeing how much fun his brother was having. He was infectiously happy, outgoing and very polite.

“I can’t remember a time he didn’t say thank you after a training session. He was a credit to his parents”.

Billy and the team hope to be a valuable support to Tomás in the years ahead.

“In the future we would love to name a tournament after André that Tomás can play in”.

The club has been a huge support to André’s teammates and even offered to cover the cost of bereavement counselling for any child who needs the service.

“A lot of the children are too small to really grasp what has happened, but we have been in touch with bereavement counsellors. The cost of any support like this that is needed will be covered by the club”.

A raffle will also be held to coincide with the Carriag Óg cake sale. Tickets will be available on the day.