Country music stars Nathan Carter and Daniel O’Donnell have gotten behind a fundraiser inspired by a six-year-old boy who is battling cancer.
Noah’s Bed Push takes place next week with a 250km journey from Crumlin to Letterkenny organised in aid of nine worthy charities.
A huge team of volunteers have enlisted to push little Noah Gooch’s hospital bed from Crumlin to Letterkenny University Hospital in Donegal.
Noah, who has Down Syndrome, recently received life-saving care at both hospitals after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia in January. He and his family organised the fundraiser as a way of saying thank you to the charities who have helped them.
Daniel O’Donnell has offered to push the bed home on the final leg of the journey and says he feels privileged to do so.
He said: “Little Noah Gooch’s story has certainly captured the hearts of people not just in Ireland but all over the world.
“I look forward to being part of the bed push, I’ll see you please God in Letterkenny on Sunday 22 August.”
Other celebrities rowing behind the challenge include golfer Padraig Harrington, jockey Rachael Blackmore and football legend Ray Houghton.
Noah’s dad Lee, a presenter with Highland Radio, admitted his son’s diagnosis came as a shock but the family are heartened by the support.
Recalling the morning his wife Claire called an ambulance, he said: “Prior to that Noah was complaining that he had sore legs and sore hips.
“When I got home Noah was in the kitchen as white as a ghost trying to eat some toast.
“While he was on the toilet he just kind of collapsed... mum had to put him back in the lying down position.”
Lee said the bed push would be an opportunity to raise vital funds for the hospitals and other beneficiaries that give life-saving treatment to children.
He added: “They offer support and guidance to families at a time when their worlds are turned upside down.”
Nathan Carter is the latest star to back Noah and he urged people to cheer them on as the bed push passes through Tyrone.
He said: “I was very touched when I seen this story about young Noah... let’s get behind this cause and help make a huge difference.”
