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Family call on community to Pedal for Grace

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By Michelle Crean

One family are so thankful for the services provided for their daughter with a vision impairment that they're calling on the community to support their upcoming fundraiser.

12-year-old Grace O’Sullivan was diagnosed with Stargardt disease five years ago, which causes progressive sight loss.

However, her family, mom Mary, dad Canice and sisters Farrah and Maisy, have been so amazed by the wonderful support from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) and the assistive technology which helps her live a relatively normal life, that they've organised the 'Pedal for Grace' charity cycle fundraiser next month.

"It affects her central vision," Grace’s mom Mary O’Sullivan, whose parents Sean and Mary O'Donoghue live in Deerpark, told the Killarney Advertiser.

"She has about two thirds of her central vision and has trouble recognising faces and fine detail, but to look at Grace you'd think there was nothing wrong."

She added that it's a progressive genetic disease and researchers think that both parents are carriers.

Unaware of the support of NCBI until they needed it, Mary says that they are a wonderful charity which allows Grace to meet with others her own age going through the same thing.

"NCBI helped Grace to become confident and independent as she goes through different stages of life," Mary, who previously raised €8,000 with a skydive and fancy dress party for her 40th birthday three years ago, said.

"Our family have decided to hold a charity cycle to show our appreciation and give something back to help others in the same situation."

EVENT

The event will kick off at the Firies Community Centre, Church Road on September 10.

Registration for 'Pedal for Grace' can be done on the NCBI website event page in advance of the event or can be completed on the day of the event from 8.30am onwards.

Those who fundraise €100 or more for the event will receive a free cycling jersey and no registration fee will be required. All cyclists must wear helmets.

You can also choose to take part in one of two events: 9.30am – 60km cycle of the Killorglin Loop, registration fee is €30, or the 10km cycle loop at 10.30am and the registration fee is €10.

Music and more fun will be available at Henderson’s Bar following the cycles.
People who wish to register for Grace’s big day can do so on the Pedal for Grace event page.

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Chamber pays tribute to late Dick Henggeler

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee. Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at his home in Baltimore, USA surrounded by his Aghadoe-born wife Eibhlin (née Moriarty), their son Franz, and other family members.
Dick and Eibhlin purchased The Rose Hotel in 2015 in tribute to their late daughter Dorothy, who represented Washington DC in the 2011 Rose of Tralee Festival.
The Chamber said Mr Henggeler would be remembered for his warmth, good nature and positive approach, as well as for being a forward-thinking and knowledgeable businessman.
“He knew how to run a good hotel and that was and still is very obvious at The Rose Hotel, which is a great success story,” the Chamber said.
It added that continuity of ownership will remain in place, with Eibhlin, Franz, daughter-in-law Amber, and grandchildren Conrad and Rowan continuing to honour Dick’s legacy and vision for the hotel.
“Dick took enormous personal pride in Tralee and all of Kerry and he was always available to generously support any community initiative or endeavour undertaken in Killarney,” the Chamber said.
“He will be greatly missed by all that knew him but he leaves a wonderful legacy.”

He will repose at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney, on Friday (October 17), from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The funeral will arrive at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday morning at 10:00am for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery. The Requiem Mass will be live streamed at https://www.churchservices.tv/killarneycathedral.

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Beaufort Film Night returns with French drama-comedy

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band. The film tells the story of Thibaut, […]

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Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band.

The film tells the story of Thibaut, a successful conductor recently diagnosed with leukaemia. A search for a bone marrow donor reveals that he was adopted and has a brother, Jimmy, a cafeteria worker.
The two meet, discover a shared love of music, and form a strong bond through an unexpected collaboration with Jimmy’s workplace band.
The Marching Band (French title En Fanfare) will screen at 8.30pm. Admission is €7, cash only, and will cover the motion picture licence fee.
The film has a 12A rating and is in French with English subtitles.
Beaufort Film Night is a non-profit community group that screens cultural English and international films that usually do not receive general release in Kerry.
The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office and Access Cinema. Cullina National School is providing the venue.
Further details are available on Beaufort Film Night’s Facebook page @BeaufortFilmNight.

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