RAPHOE AMATEUR BOXING CLUB are hosting a Tea Party in aid of the Make A Wish Foundation this Saturday from 12 noon to 4pm.
The Foundation is close to the club’s heart.
This time last year, Christian McCullagh, the son of Raphoe ABC head coach Gary McCullagh, was taken to Disneyland in Parish by the Foundation.
Picture caption: Christian McCullagh with professional boxer Jason Quigley.
The eight-year-old’s story is one of inspiration, determination and, ultimately, a father giving his boy the most precious gift of all – life itself.
On February 26th 2014, Gary and his wife, Aileen, paced the corridors of Crumlin Children’s Hospital for nine hours, wondering and waiting for updates on Christian, who had to undergo open heart surgery to replace a leaking valve.
It was a procedure the McCullaghs were aware would be needed from birth but when Christian had a kidney transplant – the donation from his doting dad – in October 2012 the strain of that surgery was too much.
[adrotate group=”57″]Gary was on his way to watch the Premier League of Darts at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast when he got the call that they were due in Crumlin four days later.
“We just had to make things as normal as possible,” Gary says, “but it was tough, very tough.
“I think even the surgeon was getting it tight – he was in from nine in the morning until six in the evening.”
Christian has been through more than most could expect in an entire lifetime.
Born five weeks prematurely, he had a series of medical complications and was given only minutes to live.
Twice, the McCullaghs said ‘goodbye’ to their new bundle of joy, but little Christian defied the odds and survived.
Former Ulster senior welterweight boxing champion Gary donated a kidney to save his son in 2012 and the family endured agony again in 2014 when Christian went under the knife in Dublin.
The struggle for the St Eunan’s NS schoolboy is continuous.
Just last weekend, Christian was rushed to Temple Street Children’s Hospital in the middle of the night.
“After spending the week in Dublin we got him home on Monday, thankfully in good form, but he has to continue his antibiotics in Letterkenny Hospital for this week,” his mother, Aileen, says.
[adrotate group=”57″]“We wanted to host this Tea Party for Make a Wish because they were so good to us last year and made it so much fun. The Foundation grants special wishes to special kids like Christian.”
A fun day will take place on Saturday from 12-4 at Raphoe ABC. Professional boxer Jason Quigley is among those who have confirmed their attendance.
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