Support group launched for two local brothers diagnosed with DMD
A support group for two young local brothers diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) has been launched.
Noah (6) and Rowan Benson-Gately (4) were diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), in January of this year.
Their parents are Sean Gately, a native of Dysart, Roscommon, and Bianca Benson, from Athlone.
PHOTO: Seán Gately and Bianca Benson pictured with Noah (6) and Rowan Benson-Gately (4)
Recently the family gathered in Dysart community centre and to watch the boys interact with their cousins in the same way any boys of that age would, filled with energy and joy, the untrained eye would struggle to identify any issue whatsoever.
However DMD is a progressive neuromuscular disorder, which causes the muscles in the body to become weak, primarily in the hips and legs. DMD has no known cure, to date.
As time goes on, more and more support will be needed to ensure their passage through childhood and development is as smooth as possible in the circumstances, and in response their extended family members joined local community people at Dysart Community Centre last Sunday to launch the Noah & Rowan Benson-Gately Support Group.
The group is a community response to create a fund to support the medical, academic, physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development of the two boys and may also be used to cover any other unexpected financial burden associated with their wellbeing and quality of life. The Noah & Rowan Benson-Gately Support Group is dedicated to raising awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy while supporting the practical needs of Noah & Rowan into the future, whatever they may be.
Seán spoke warmly at the launch, thanking the committee of the support group and the community as a whole for their effort and they each circulated around the large crowd to show their appreciation for the turnout, but throughout the afternoon it as notable that their focus remained on their two sons, who in turn were more interested in their friends, their cousins and of course, the cake.
Aidan Thompson, Chairperson of the support group, spoke of how the a series of fundraisers were planned over the coming months, but that for the moment the group just wanted to introduce the family to the wider communities of Athlone and South Roscommon, and to announce the launch of their gofundme page at https://gf.me/u/yfxrc8, or to be found by searching for Noah & Rowan Benson-Gately on gofundme.com.
As a thank you from the family to the committee, Sean and Bianca presented Aidan Thompson with a young white blossom tree, a plant that will require nurturing, support and care, but will transform into a beautiful and popular part of the local landscape. Thanks to this new group, it is hoped that the same future is in store for Noah and Rowan.