Local woman organises fundraiser in aid of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland

A fundraising walk in support of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland will take place this Sunday, September 17, in Athlone.

The walk was organised by Athlone woman Edel Folan Larkin who works for ExWell Medical which offers one-to-one supervised exercise with people who are living with chronic illness. Edel wanted to assist a fundraiser to help her friend Phyllis Baker whose son Zac Martin was the victim of an unprovoked assault in Ballymahon in November 2021.

The walk is open to everyone as it is not based on ability with participants welcome to run or walk whatever distance they are comfortable with. Ballymahon-based Phyllis said that Edel wanted to do something to contribute to her fundraising for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. “Because she has met so many people with brain injuries who are working to be the best they can be, she thought that this would be a good way of going about it.”

Phyllis is looking forward to taking part in the walk herself and said that the walk is designed to be about people's own ability.

“It's not about the distance, it's about how far you've come. If you can imagine somebody going to an exercise class and they're in the early days of living with illness, it's a big challenge so even the social side of things to be able to get out there and to meet people and to do something like this, it's a personal challenge for people and that's what I'm all about.” Phyllis added that the walk is unique in that it's not a race.

The money raised from the walk will also supplement Phyllis’s GoFundMe entitled Phyllis Baker - One Step at a Time which has raised an incredible €22,692 to date.

The Mullingar native is also currently training for a marathon in conjunction with her GoFundMe for the Acquired Brain Injury Ireland charity. She will run 26.2 miles in the Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 29.

Phyllis said: “I’ve a lot of work ahead of me. I’m very determined because I wanted to do something that took effort and show people that I really do value every donation. Running reminds me of rehabilitation. You have to take it one step at a time. Nobody can do the work for you but it’s the support that keeps you going.

“I want to show that brain injury can happen to anyone. It happens to 52 people every day in Ireland, that’s 19,000 people every year. Each one of these people is unique and their brain injury is unique. For Daddy it was a brain tumour at 63. For Zac, it was an assault at 19.”

Phyllis has been shocked by the staggering figure raised for her fundraiser and said that her initial target was €1,500. “So many people have helped me to reach to reach this figure.”

She said that she was “overwhelmed at times” by the generosity of local people .”The goodness in people is just phenomenal. It has lifted the spirits of both me and my family. When something traumatic happens in your family it has a huge effect on everybody and the goodness of people in supporting us to raise money and do some good following Zac's assault has been something we will never forget.”

Phyllis said: “I would just like to say that I'm very grateful to Edel and that I am full of admiration for people who are faced with long-term illness who never give up. I'm so looking forward to meeting the participants, it's an honour really. It's hard enough to carry out an exercise when you're well and fit, never mind when you have huge challenges with your health. I think they're greater than any Olympian.”

The walk for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland will take place on Sunday, September 17 at 3pm at Athlone Regional Sports Centre's fitness park. There is no entry fee but donations can be made on the day. All ages and abilities welcome. Garrycastle man Fergal Nugent from Centre Perks Coffee Dock will be open for business on the day of the walk also.

Phyllis would like to thank Athlone Boat Club and Athlone Regional Sports Centre for the use of the fitness park.

To donate to Phyllis fundraiser search 'Phyllis Baker - One Step at a Time' on GoFundMe.