Farrah recovers in time to help daddy finish the race

YOUNG Farrah McCloskey recovered from a broken leg just in time to proudly cross the finish line of the London marathon with her daddy Patrick.

Patrick McCloskey, from Sion Mills, completed the virtual run during wet and windy conditions recently to raise money for Barnardos, a charity which has helped Farrah learn how to walk.

The run was even more special for the McCloskey family as Farrah, who was born with a shortened femur bone in her leg and was unable to walk for much of her young life, helped her daddy finish the 26.2 mile run.

Farrah now has a prosthetic leg, but after a small accident on a family trip to Tayto Park last month, she broke her other leg and was put in a cast.

However, the inspirational young girl made a brilliant recovery just in time to support her daddy’s run.
Patrick explained, “Around a month ago we were going down to Dublin to Tayto Park, and Farrah was jumping on the bed in the hotel room, and fell and broke her leg but she still made Tayto Park the next day. She just got he cast off and she ran the last bit of the marathon with us, so she is extremely strong willed.

“She is doing fantastic now,” said Patrick.

The six-year-old is a past participant of the Barnardos Sure Start Programme, and Patrick and his wife Ciara credit the programme as giving Farrah the ‘boost she needed to get on her feet’.

Patrick decided to complete the marathon to give something back to the charity.

“Farrah is the star of this one,” said Patrick. “She went to the Sure Start programme when she was two and the programme gave her a great boost to help her get on her feet.

“Due to her condition she wears a prosthetic leg but once she started in Sure Start she got a boost and began walking.

“In December 2018 she won a young national achiever award and Barnardos flew her over to London and she received her award on stage.

“She was a proper princess for the day and she enjoyed it.

“I wanted to do something to raise funds for Barnardos because they were such a big help to Farrah,” said Patrick.

The runner did the marathon around Sion Mills, covering a route which led him through Strabane and Victoria Bridge.

Patrick, mum Ciara and Farrah have been overwhelmed by the donations they have received from the local community.

Patrick “The fundraising went really well and we reckon we have raised around £2,500. I am over the moon.

“We didn’t think we would reach that much so it is great to get the support from everyone.

“The local community have always been very supportive of any fundraising efforts and we really appreciate it.

“A big thank you to everyone who donated to the cause and to my family and friends for all their help and encouragement,” said Patrick.

• To donate to Patrick’s fundraiser, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/patrick-mc-closkey.