ORGANISERS FOR THE ‘Do It For Dan’ campaign believe they have reached their €2.1 million target just 50 days after their fundraising efforts began.
The campaign was launched in March in aid of one-year-old Dan Donoher — son of former Laois footballers Aisling and Niall Donoher — in an attempt to raise the colossal sum required for Dan to receive life-saving treatment for the genetic neuromuscular disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 and Scoliosis.
The life expectancy for an SMA Type 1 child is 18-24 months, but Do It For Dan organisers revealed last night that they believe they have raised sufficient funds in order for Dan to receive the rare medical treatment which, if successful, could change everything for the Donoher family.
Almost €1.8m has already been donated on the official GoFundMe page, and with direct donations added to that sum, it appears as though the people of Laois, Ireland, and further afield have indeed done it for Dan.
“This is unbelievable!” read a statement on the Do It For Dan Facebook page on Friday night.
“To anyone about to commence fundraising activity, thank you sincerely for your support and for the work you have done but we ask that you please hold on progressing activity as we are currently totalling all funds raised and believe we have reached our goal.
“To all of the amazing clubs, families and fundraisers who are in the midst of their activity, please give it one last push to make sure we get over the line!
“With current live fundraisers close to completion and with direct donations we believe we have DONE IT FOR DAN!”
Republic of Ireland football captain Seamus Coleman and former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor were among those to make sizeable donations to the cause, while several high-profile sportspeople from the GAA and beyond similarly offered support by auctioning off memorabilia and organising personal challenges in a bid to raise funds.
More than 87,500 people have donated to the Do It For Dan GoFundMe page.
A great cause best of luck lad!!
@Michael: before ye start yes I realise he wont be able to read it
Almost 90,000 contributors, fair play to all
Unbelievable effort from so many people to help this family and their young son, and rightly so! Money should never be the reason anyone doesn’t get a chance at living, best of luck to DAN THE MAN
Well done to all involved. Best of luck to the young lad.
Dan the man a little fighter .
Great new .
Great news shows what a great country we are. There’s a lot of fundraising still going on , even though the target of 2 million has been reached let these fundraising ventures finish out & any surplus money could be donated to other causes or to help fund equipment for HSE staff on the frontline # we done it for Dan !!!
Incredible generosity
Finally a bit of uplifting news, incredible generosity,
Yes !!!!! Brilliant news… just what we all need… best of luck to the little man,
We are a great little county when it comes down to it.best of luck little fella
Doitfordan has really shown how incredible this little country is and how communities come together from all over for this little man. Well done to everyone. And I wish Dan and his mam and dad all the best. #doitfordan
This is just phenomenal
Brilliant news… go little man!
Great News, best of Luck!
You lib
@IAmTheTruth: **you love to see it !!
One’s natural instinct is to agree that its wonderfull that 2 million is raised to save this lovely little boy. But stepping away from the family directly, should one ask how many children’s lives, and it would be in the thousands, would be saved if 2 million was spent in Africa on water supplies, or the slums of India or south America on basic health care. So pause and think of our privileged first world position where one western European life is worth more than thousands of third world lives. Where is the morality in that equation, still feeling good?.
@Henry Thompson: maybe the people who donated to this little boy have in the past given to African and Indian charities and they thought this time my donation will go to this western child’s life saint treatment or do you think every spare cent anybody with a white face in the world has, has to go to to third world charities?
@Anthony Lambe: # saving