5k run to support two young brothers with rare life-limiting condition
A 5K run and fun day in aid of two young Lucan brothers with a rare, life-limiting condition will take place in the Phoenix Park on Saturday, April 22, at 11am.
Conor and Dean Thompson, aged seven and six respectively, live with an incurable, muscle-wasting condition called Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
But the young boys, who attend Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig, have an irrepressible zest for life and their family recently began fundraising for them so they can continue to have a good quality of life.
Their family set up the Build for the Boys campaign in mid-2022 and have held several fundraisers since, with the Phoenix Park 5k being the latest one on their books.
The boys’ uncle, Daithi Ó Murchú, told The Echo: “We have a situation where the lads have such a degenerative condition that the costs long-term are quite extreme.
“They will need mobility vehicles, and they’ll need a new property with adaptations to cater for their needs.
“There are a lot of costs involved in making a property wheelchair accessible for two lads.
“Right now, while they can walk, they can’t go long distances, and Conor is starting to struggle going up the stairs.
“So we set up a trust for the boys called the Build for the Boys Trust and every euro raised goes into that trust for the benefit of Conor and Dean, for their future needs, and it safeguards their futures.”
Conor and Dean
All of the money raised from the 5k later this month will go into the trust, and the event promises to be a fun one for all the family.
There will be a chipped 5k run, there will also be the option for a non-chipped circuit run, and there will be prizes on the day that have been generously donated by local businesses.
There will also be live music courtesy of the uplifting Walkinstown-based ukulele group The Walkeleles, and face painting will be available on the day.
Registrations for the 5k run portion of the fundraiser are now being accepted at www.justrunevents.ie, while donations can be made at www.buildfortheboys.ie
Conor and Dean’s uncle, Daithi, added: “The message is one of positivity for the future of the lads.
“They love life. Even though the prognosis is quite stark, it’s not something that their parents want to highlight.
“It’s not about trying to avoid the reality, but the language they use isn’t one of devastation.”
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