“Never give up” – Lily Daly Foundation launches fundraising challenge

The foundation launched its inaugural fundraising event, Lily’s Pink Challenge which involves a majestic 60 km cycle through the Gap of Dunloe, followed by a 10 km run/walk within Killarney National Park.

This event takes place on September 16 starting and finishing at Killarney Race Course, with all proceeds from this event going towards the Heart Centre in Crumlin Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald house in Dublin, both of which help and support sick children and their families and have a very strong association to the Lily Daly Foundation and the Daly family.

This event is open to all levels of participants, from experienced cyclists and runners to those that want to support a worthy event or those that just want a fresh new challenge, be that the 60km cycle or a 10km run or walk or indeed those that want the ultimate challenge to complete both wonderful challenges.

Launching Lily’s Pink Challenge last week Kerry football legend, Kieran Donaghy said: “I was aware of Lily Daly’s unique challenge and medical struggles back in 2019/2020 and the extraordinary lengths her family went to cure Lily. Therefore, when I heard that the Daly family set up the Lily Daly Foundation in memory of Lily and with the aim to help and support other children and families experiencing life altering heart-medical conditions, I was delighted to get involved and lend my support. As a father myself, I can only imagine the heartbreak the Daly family experienced losing Lily and how brave and inspiring it is to see what they are now doing here.”

Lily’s mom Caroline Daly said: “This is both an emotional and daunting experience for us as a family. But, we are determined to face such new challenges with bravery and determination just like our amazing daughter Lily always did and to help other children and families facing serious medical challenges similar to the journey we travelled. So, we now encourage people to take on Lily’s Pink Challenge and aim to complete the cycle, or the run/walk or indeed both events. Remember, as it always was with our

Lily and is now the motto of the Lily Daly Foundation, ‘Never Give Up’.”

To take on Lily’s Pink Challenge participants can go to www.lilydalyfoundation. ie and register for this exciting event through the Gap of Dunloe-Molls Gap and Killarney National Lakes and Park.

The Lily Daly Foundation’s primary mission and purpose is to support children and their parents when in hospital with heart related issues. Lily Daly was born in 21 June 2019 and suffered from Pulmonary Vein Stenosis, a very rare condition affecting the heart and surrounding arteries. Unfortunately, after frequent visits to Crumlin, major heart surgery in both Crumlin and the Presbyterian Hospital in New York, Lily passed away on the 26 February 2021.