I hope that doing this challenge will change my life – OT leader
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A GARDA sergeant will be taking on the challenge of adopting a new healthy lifestyle as a leader on this year’s Operation Transformation 2018, so that he can keep up with his three-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease, as she gets more active.
David Cryan, 38, who is based in Bridewell Garda Station in the city centre, has described his daughter Zoe, who was born prematurely at 24 weeks weighing only 540 grams and is tube-fed, as a “very special girl”.
David Cryan with Operation Transformation 2018 host Kathryn Thomas
The garda lives in Lucan with his wife Siobhán, 37, who is Zoe’s full-time carer, and their children, three-year-old Zoe and five-year-old Dylan.
David, who is originally from Roscommon, told The Echo: “I was getting annoyed about the weight I had put on.
“Everyone has said that I don’t look 19 stone, but I feel 19 stone – I feel more tired than I used to feel, and while I’m not unfit, I can’t do as much as I used to.
“In the last year or two I’ve slowly been putting on the weight.”
David also added that while he wants to get fit so that he can have a better quality of life with his family, another reason for him embarking on the Operation Transformation 2018 challenge is to show his colleagues that if he can get fit and lose weight, then they can too.
The garda’s main aim is to have lost a stone-and-a-half by the end of the television programme, and to “develop the right habits” so that he can continue to lose weight and keep the weight off after the television show ends.
He said: “I hope that doing this will change my life. I will be trying my hardest, and if I can do it then anyone can.”
The first episode of the new series of Operation Transformation 2018 will be broadcast on Tuesday, January 9 at 8.30pm, on RTE One.
Meanwhile a number of local Operation Transformation events are being held, with Round Tower GAA announcing Independent councillor Francis Timmons as a leader for their Operation Transformation events, while Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA Club will hold their first OT weigh-in on January 8 at 7pm in the clubhouse, costing €15.
The South Dublin County Sports Partnership will also be offering a number of free community walks, and on Saturday, January 13, the local leg of the nationwide Operation Transformation walks will be taking place at Griffeen Valley Park, starting at Lucan Leisure Centre at 11am.
The South Dublin County Sports Partnership will be supporting local community and sports groups who want to start their own Operation Transformation groups in 2018, if you would like to register your interest in getting involved in organising a walk or if you would simply like to attend one you can email info [at] sdcsp [dot] ie or text 086 044 1071 with details.
