Paula is the pride of ireland

PAULA Naughton, of the Join Our Boys charity organisation, has been awarded with the Special Recognition Award at The Irish Mirror Pride of Ireland Awards, an Awards ceremony that honours the country’s many unsung heroes. This year’s event took place yesterday (Wednesday) at Dublin’s Mansion House in a star-studded affair.

Paula is mother to three young boys from Roscommon town - Archie (9) and twin boys Issac and George (4) - who have an incurable muscle weakening genetic disease called Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Since their diagnosis, Paula has been a key figure in setting up Join Our Boys, to raise awareness and funds for research into the genetic condition. Join Our Boys has so far raised a phenomenal €700,000 - in the space of a year.
The trust was established last year to provide funds for the brothers, who are the sons of Paula and Padraic Naughton. The family lives in Roscommon town and Padraic is a native of Ballydangan.

Paula received her Award at Wednesday’s ceremony from Irish showbiz guru Louis Walsh, who was one the judges. He told the Irish Mirror newspaper that the story of Paula and her three children reduced him to tears. During the ceremony, Paula also receuved a video message from X-Factor star Simon Cowell, inviting the family to meet him in London and attend the X-Factor show.

In an interview with the Mirror, Paula said: “I’m delighted to have won. We’re hoping that it will raise awareness for the disease in the hope of finding a treatment and a cure for all young people and children who are sufferers of DMD.”

The judges said that Paula has managed to find a ‘superhuman, inner strength’ and raised a staggering amount of money, as well as awareness about DMD.