Marathon fundraiser for Zoe
Zoe Cryan from Castleplunkett
A local man is to run a marathon in each of Ireland’s 32 counties to raise money for the Zoe Cyran Trust.
Elite long distance athlete, Ed Payne will start his task on Sunday, September 13th and hopes to complete the challenge in just 15 days.
“This is going to be fun, it is going to be inclusive,” he said on social media. “ You can come out and join me.”
Ed is hoping to raise €5.5k for the Castleplunkett girl, with hundreds of euro already being donated.
“Over the past number of years, Zoe has made incredible progress,” the trust said on the . “Through sheer determination, years of hard work, intensive feeding therapies and tongue-release surgery, she has learned to chew and eat safely — something that was once a huge challenge for her and something we once only wished for.
“But Zoe’s journey continues, particularly when it comes to her oral motor function.
“Anyone who knows Zoe knows just how sociable she is. She loves people, she loves the chats, and she always has plenty to say! Unfortunately, due to significant jaw retraction and an overbite, Zoe’s speech is greatly affected, making it difficult at times for others to understand her.
“Zoe already faces many challenges in her everyday life as a full-time wheelchair user. Her ability to be heard and understood should not have to be another one — especially when we know there may be a solution.
“The next step in Zoe’s journey is to travel to America to see a specialist maxillofacial surgeon and explore the possibility of jaw realignment surgery, with the hope of improving her speech, oral function and ability to eat.”
Ed, who recently won a gruelling 268 mile race along the length of England’s mountainous Pennine Way, said he is looking forward to beginning the fundraising campaign.
The challenge will see Ed running more than one marathon a day, “and some days even more than two,” he said.
“I hope you come on and enjoy it and try to be part of it,” Ed continued. “I cannot wait.”
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