Cork mum raises €1,400 for Cork Deaf Association with steps challenge

A CORK mum has raised €1,400 for the Cork Deaf Association by walking 90k steps in October and getting family and friends involved.

Grace O’Brien was inspired to take part in the fundraiser by her son James and in gratitude for the support shown to their family since he was born.

James is hard of hearing in both ears, and received hearing aids in March, just before turning one year old. Grace said that this meant that when his birthday arrived, he was able to hear friends and family sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him.

The Cork mother said they have received much support for James, and she was keen to give back.

“So much help was given to him, so we wanted to give back because we were so grateful,” she said.

“James has been welcomed to a new world of hearing, and ongoing support by our team of family members, close friends, and by the trained professionals shadowing our journey.”

She set up a GoFundMe page which invited the community to join them in walking or running 90k steps in October in aid of the Cork Deaf Association.

“We, as the family of James, believe it is time they get further recognition they deserve,” she said.

Design a Tee on Castle St kindly offered to print personalised T-shirts, which Grace designed herself using Canva, to wear while taking part in the 90k step challenge for €10, which also helped the family to spread the word about the initiative.

Grace told The Echo that their fundraising goal was just €500 to begin with, and that she was not even expecting to make that much.

However, the support they received brought the amount raised to nearly triple their goal.