Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland is so excited that one of our trikes made a special appearance on this year’s Late Late Toy Show!
We were so pleased be be able to donate a specially adapted trike to the star of the show and the trikes new owner – Robert. Robert is a little boy who was born with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy and who can only get around with the use of a walker.Roberts legs may be affected, but this certainly doesn’t stop him! He goes to school and competes in IWA athletics , swimming and many other activities. He is a great little boy who has a constant smile on his face. He is loved by his friends and they don’t look at his disability in any way.
His parents were made extra proud this year when Robert won 3 gold and 2 silver medals at the IWA All Ireland in Carlow and he has become a local celebrity in his hometown of Tramore. Robert was thrilled to meet Ryan Tubridy at the show which became the most watched TV programme in Ireland in 2019.
“My son Robert was a very lucky boy to get accepted to appear on the Late Late Toy show , something that every child dreams of!
Robert was trying out a disability trike on the night of the show, after hearing the news he got picked to perform on the show, we took a phonecall from Variety Ireland about 2 days later, to tell us Brian Ormond and Pippa O Connor nominated Variety to be the recipient of the monies raised at the Blossom Tree Ball. Many guests on the night of the ball had donated to the mobility fund which very kindly was able to pay for Roberts trike on the night of the toy show. We cannot thank Variety – the Children’s Charity enough for this lovely gesture and we had one very happy little boy when he was told he could bring home the trike after the show . We have lots of days planned out to try out the trike over the Christmas on the Waterford Greenway. Again we would like to thank the volunteers who give of their time for Variety to help boys like Robert for what they have done to make our little boys Christmas a very special one indeed.”
Michael Downey (Roberts Dad) Tramore Co. Waterford
