Sunflower event raises €2,780 for Roscommon brothers

A total of €2,780 has been raised for Roscommon brothers George and Isaac Naughton from a Sunflower Open Day hosted by Westmeath woman Anne Marie Durkin.

The event took place in Coolamber House and Gardens in Lismacaffrey on Sunday, September 20.

On the day, visitors will be able to wander through the walled garden and tea room at the property. The sunflower field will be open for people to pick as many flowers as they wish, with all donations going directly to Join Our Boys.

"We have this beautiful field of sunflowers at the front of the house. It is usually used for bird coverage, but I plant the sunflowers to make it prettier," Anne Marie said.

"This is my second year using the field for a fundraiser, and I decided to donate the sunflowers to Join Our Boys this year."

She explained that the fundraiser came about after she met the two boys’ parents Paula Kerr Naughton and Padraic Naughton.

"I run an eight-month gardening course every year, and Padraic was taking part. As we all got to know him, we learned about the terrible illness the boys are living with, and I felt compelled to do something to help."

The Join Our Boys brothers have been seeking a treatment got their rare condition Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a progressive neuromuscular disease that destroys muscle tissue and currently has no cure.

The Naughton family has been advocating for improved healthcare access for their sons George and his twin brother Isaac since 2012, having tragically lost their eldest son, Archie (16) to the disease in 2022.

To donate directly to Join Our Boys, go to: joinourboys.org/donate/