‘It’s a new life now’
Fundraiser for Newport man after crash
A group of local motorcyclists are rallying in support of a young man from Newport who suffered life-changing injuries in a car crash.
The fundraising bike run they have organised for this Sunday will take place almost a year on from when Aaron Donovan (22) was involved in the crash between Ballinahinch and Silvermines. He was left paralysed from the chest down.
Aaron spent four and a half months in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. Most of that time was used trying to build up strength in his arms and hands. There is no prospect of him walking again, which has been devastating for a young man in the prime of his life.
“It’s been a nightmare,” Aaron said. “It’s a new life now, I just have get used to it. But it’s new challenges every day.”
Aaron, who had been working as a part-time painter, has tried hard to remain optimistic in the new situation he finds himself in. There was talk of getting him a motorised wheelchair but he decided he would be better off staying with the chair he has, reasoning that it at least encourages the use of his arms and gives him something to focus on.
He gets out and about in Newport as much as he can to push himself around in the wheelchair. He hopes that the money raised through the idonate web page set up for him can assist his situation with physiotherapy.
'NEWPORT BEHIND ME'
Whatever the outcome, Aaron counts himself lucky to be alive and he has a remarkably positive attitude. “I’m six feet above, not six feet under,” he said. “I have to leave everything behind me and just stay going on.”
He is buoyed in this regard by his family, friends, and the wider community in general. “I’ve the whole of Newport behind me,” he said.
Aaron is hoping for a good turnout this Sunday, August 9, when a fundraising event will begin at Aherns pub outside Newport at 12pm. Members of the local “tight-knit and warm-hearted biking community” – motorcyclist friends who wanted to do something for Aaron after hearing about what happened – will depart at 1.30pm on a motorbike ride to Rearcross, Kilcommon, Cureeny, Silvermines, Birdhill and Ballymackeogh before returning to Aherns later that afternoon.
They are inviting motorcyclists everywhere to join them, and for anyone wanting to help Aaron to visit idonate.ie – ‘Aaron Donovan's Crowdfunding Page’.