Charity cycle to raise funds for Doon boy

John and Edel Carroll from Doon welcomed their first child Tadhg into the world just over two years ago with no hint of the hardship that was to come. Tadhg, who turned two last Monday week, began suffering episodes that included his eyes becoming disorientated at just six months and later bouts of paralysis. At the beginning of this year he was diagnosed with Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC), a condition that effects only six or seven people in Ireland. And last week a special fundraising campaign to assist his parents was launched in Offaly, centring on a 100-kilometres cycle that will see stars from the world of sport as well as members of the local community come together to raise funds for Tadhg. As John and Edel come to terms with their son's condition the local community has gathered to help and last Thursday night launched a massive fundraising cycle was launched with help from paralympian Mark Rohan, Offaly hurling star Johnny Dooley and the Sunday Game's Michael Duignan in order to provide financial assistance for Tadhg's needs into the future. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week pipe fitter John (42) described the effect local efforts are having on himself and his wife of five years Edel (nee Egan). "Everyone is helping us out; they're brilliant," he said. "The concern has lifted our hearts no end." At the time of Tadhg's birth on June 11, 2010, John said there were no signs of their son being anything other than a "fine, healthy baby". "By all accounts everything was perfect," he explained. However at approximately six months old Tadhg began to show signs of his condition that was originally diagnosed as epilepsy. "About six months we noticed his eyes being kind of disorientated just for a minute," John remembered. A trip to the doctor didn't shed any light on Tadhg's symptoms, so when he suffered a longer episode some two months later that included a loss of power in his body John and Edel took him to hospital. Visits to Ballinsloe, Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals followed, and just at the beginning of this year a neurologist diagnosed Tadhg as suffering from AHC. Now Tadhg has approximately two episodes each month, but John said he usually has a mini-episode at least one day in every week when he could lose power up to three times in the day. John and Edel can't predict the nature of future episodes, nor indeed what Tadhg's future holds, as every sufferer is affected differently. The couple met up with other AHC-affected families in Ireland three months ago, and while they heard what could transpire there are no guarantees. "We actually really don't know what to expect because every child is different," John said. "There are different levels of it." John said a severe level will see a sufferer being unable to walk, having trouble talking and even needing a dialysis machine. Other sufferers may just have slurred speech when tired. "We asked the neurologist what level Tadhg is at but he really doesn't know," John said. While Tadhg's future needs are as yet uncertain, local efforts are hoping funds raised will mean he'll want for nothing. The fundraising centres around a 100km cycle beginning and ending in Doon on August 4, with 200 cyclists including John himself taking part. Sponsorship is being offered to businesses and donations accepted from all supporters, while every cyclist must raise €200 to take part in the cycle. Though in no way a seasoned cyclist, John said he's "after becoming one" over the past few months. "You could be knocked down by bikes in Doon," he laughed, explaining that serious training is now underway locally.