News

Brave Dáithí wins over an army of fans during Organ Donation Week

Dáithí Mac Gabhann at Cliftonville's north Belfast ground.
Dáithí Mac Gabhann at Cliftonville's north Belfast ground. Dáithí Mac Gabhann at Cliftonville's north Belfast ground.

West Belfast toddler Dáithí Mac Gabhann, spent Organ Donation Week raising awareness about the donor register along with the help of an army of volunteers.

Along with his parents Máirtín Mac Gabhann and Seph Ní Mhealláin, the family have already convinced hundreds of people across Northern Ireland to sign the Organ and Tissue Donor register.

Dáithí, has so far waited 100 days on the waiting list for a new heart after being born with rare Hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

The brave tot has already undergone three rounds of major surgery at four days, 10 days and four months old, but now needs a transplant.

During Organ Donation week the family addressed a meeting of Belfast City Council, held numerous coffee mornings, supporters ran in park runs and Dáithí was a mascot at Solitude for Saturday's Cliftonville match, with the players all vowing to sign the organ donor register.

The famous Free Derry wall was painted in support of the toddler's campaign and Belfast city hall was lit up in pink for the night in support of Organ Donation Week.

Dáithí's parents said the support they have received from "people from all walks of life and backgrounds, has been truly inspirational and every single act of support and solidarity has meant the world to us".