KATHLEEN'S MARATHON FOR CAPPAGH KIDS

I am Kathleen Little from Co. Westmeath. My daughter Aine has a rare metabolic bone condition. She attends Cappagh hospital in Dublin and Cappagh Kids - the paediatric unit of Cappagh hospital is what I am fundraising for now. To improve the onsite facilities there for children.
A year ago to the date of this years dublin marathon Aine just 3 years old had just had an operation on both of her legs. She had to wear external fixator frames on her legs for another 6 months after that. Every single day she had to have a shower to clean all the pin sites and ensure no infection occurred. It was a very difficult time for the whole family seeing Aine in pain and discomfort and not able to do so many of the things she loved to do. However she faced the challenge with such positivity and courage and a smile on her face that she made the whole journey so much easier for us all. Thankfully her surgery has been successful and as a result her mobility has improved and she is back to doing all the things she enjoyed before the surgery and lots of new things also.  We had to attend cappagh hospital regularly while the frames were on. Aine received wonderful care from all the staff there who were always so friendly and kind to her.  On every visit there we met so so many brave and courageous children and their families all receiving wonderful care from the staff in Cappagh. I am fundraising to raise money specifically for the childrens unit in Cappagh. Cappagh kids is a child and family friendly department of paediatric orthopedics that helps children with complex orthopaedic conditions from all over Ireland.   Aine will be returning to cappagh for more surgery in January.... Here are a few photos showing the for the children who attend there and to help let them continue to ' just be kids' while they are visiting the hospital.