KEVIN Lynch’s will this weekend host an inaugural Ulster under 10.5 hurling tournament, the first of which will be used to support epilepsy charities.
Long-serving player and current vice-chairman of the club, Liam Hinphey, has been raising money and awareness of the condition since his 18-month old son of the same name was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy known as Dravet Syndrome.
The former Derry footballer and hurler’s son has suffered ten seizures in his short life so far, all of which result in him being hospitalised, but his mental and physical development to this point have been positive.
“The type of epilepsy he has is a rare one and a severe one. It’s a genetic condition which isn’t curable, they can only try and minimise the seizures with medication,” said Hinphey.
“The worst part about it is that there’s the potential for development issues as well, possibly learning difficulties and physical disabilities.
“Fortunately, to date, he’s on track. Some people never walk with Dravet Syndrome but he’s walking, doing a tiny bit of talking, but he’s under observation with different physios and doctors checking his development.
“It’s on track at the minute. We know there is the potential for some sort of regression somewhere along the line, but we won’t know until it maybe happens unfortunately.”
Hinphey raised over £8,000 for Epilepsy Action during the summer when he and some friends took on the 10km obstacle course, ‘Hard as Oak’.
This weekend will see 23 clubs arrive at Kevin Lynch Park, as well as the footballers’ home at O’Cahan Park, for the first Ulster competition at the age grade, which they hope will become an annual event.
Among the visiting teams will be a host of sides from Antrim, including Loughgiel, Cushendall, St Gall’s and Creggan, as well as Down’s Ballygalget and Ballycran, and Keady (Armagh), Buncrana (Donegal) and Dungannon plus Omagh (Tyrone).
The tournament starts at 10am with the finals taking place at 1.30pm in Kevin Lynch Park.
“I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be a good tournament,” said Hinphey.
“We’re trying to raise a bit of money for epilepsy charities and raise awareness of it, not just because Liam has it but because we can see the potential pitfalls people with the condition may have in day-to-day life.
“We want to reduce a bit of stigma around it as well.”
* See Saturday’s Irish News for a feature-length interview with Liam Hinphey about his son’s condition
