GAA members abseil off the roof of Croker to raise funds for Heart Children Ireland

MEMBERS of a GAA club completed an abseil off the roof of Croke Park to raise funds for Heart Children Ireland in the name of a little girl who has had hundreds of procedures for coronary heart disease.

Lexie Lynch has become a familiar face on sidelines at McGee Park, supporting teams of all ages wearing the black and amber of St Mark’s GAA.

Returning the favour, members of the GAA club wanted to show their support and appreciation for nine-year-old Lexie by fundraising for a charity close to the family, the Heart Children Ireland.

“I wanted to do something for Lexie because if you’ve ever met her, you’d know she’s one of the most special little girls you’d ever meet,” Sarah Beattie, family friend and member of St Mark’s GAA, tells The Echo.

“She always has a smile, even when she’s sick, she still is just such a pleasure to be around, she just lights up a room and it breaks my heart that she has to go through all of this.

“If you’ve ever met her mam Niamh as well, it blows my mind how strong she is, especially when you know Lexie.

“They are the most amazing people and the most amazing family.

“Niamh posted on her Facebook page that she was wanted to abseil for Lexie for Heart Children Ireland.

“I am afraid of heights but I spoke to Jason, Gav Sexton and I knew they wanted to raise money for Lexie too, and that’s how we ended up doing a club abseil.

“That’s why I got involved and wanted to help out.”

Sarah’s son Shane ended up doing the abseil instead of Niamh, alongside her husband Martin, and St Mark’s members Jason Shalloe, Gavin Sexton, Anne Meagan and Gavin O’Leary.

“It was a brilliant day, they all did so well, they smashed it, going over the rail at the back off the big screen and the whole way down.

“I was so proud of everyone that took part and the money that we’ve raised.”

So far, the abseil team have raised €2,645 for Heart Children Ireland in Lexie’s name.

The young Springfield girl has faced a lot of adversity in her life but has been helped with the support of her parents, Niamh Griffin and Stephen Lynch, and her younger brother, Parker.

The family linked in with Heart Children Ireland three years ago, which provides a range of services to support children who suffer from congenital heart defects and their parents and families.

When Niamh had her 20-week scan during her pregnancy on Lexie, the consultant told the expectant mother that the baby had a form of congenital heart disease.

However, when Lexie was born in October 2013, she was quite ill, and doctors realised that her condition was even more severe than they originally thought. Brought straight to CHI at Crumlin, it was found that little Lexie had five cardiac conditions, called TDA, AFD, VSD, TVA and LVOTO.

After being put on oxygen and tube-fed straight away, Lexie underwent her first major surgery to correct the five issues but did not come out of it smoothly, needing an external pacemaker to be fitted and requiring dialysis.

“It was slightly terrifying, because at the same time, they said there were no other children with the same conditions Lexie had,” Niamh told The Echo last year.

“In all fairness, they said Lexie wasn’t going to make it, but she’s nine now and has had five major surgeries and hundreds of procedures, but if you saw her now and she walked by you, you wouldn’t know she was any different.”

Most weeks, Lexie is out supporting her brother Parker when he togs out for St Mark’s GAA and was in Croke Park last Saturday to support the team doing the abseil.

To support the fundraiser, visit The Heart Children website HERE.

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