Source: Waterford News

THE Baby Sam Appeal has received a boost as the Irish team participating in the Dakar Rally had committed to raising funds for the appeal.

Two-year-old Samuel Walsh from Mooncoin has severe developmental delay, epilepsy and is also blind.

His parents Pamela Horgan and David Walsh need to raise €35,000 to bring Samuel to China for special stem cell treatment to cure his blindness.

So far the family have raised €23,000 and his mum Pamela said she is delighted to have made so much. “We started fundraising at the end of April and it has been going great. We never expected to raise this much so fast, we’ve had a great response from the public.”

Little Sam was born a perfect healthy baby, but at the age of three months everything changed. One afternoon Pamela got a call to say her youngest son was in hospital. Sam had stopped breathing and had suffered a bleed on the brain.

Numerous times the family was told to say goodbye to Sam but he kept fighting back. Pamela said he is doing well despite some minor illnesses. “It would be great to get him over there while he’s stable like this,” she said.

Mum to Dillon, 10, Zoë, six and Adam, three, Pamela said the treatment could help his epilepsy and his sight but she is not expecting miracles. “I’m going in with my eyes open. It’s the only option left. I want to know that I’ve done the best for him, that I’ve done everything I can.”

At the moment Sam suffers a number of epileptic fits a day and has restricted movement. He needs a special buggy and in the future will more than likely need a wheelchair.

Pamela said it’s his blindness that is the most upsetting. “He’s living in a world of darkness, that’s the killer. The doctors said that seen as he’s so young the treatment should work, so the sooner we can afford it the better.”

The Dakar team have already made a one-of-a-kind jacket, which is to be auctioned off in September in aid of the appeal.

The Dakar team and the motorbike that will be used in the 2010 rally is also making a visit to City Square on September 19 to raise awareness of the Baby Sam Appeal.

Brave mum Pamela is also preparing to have her head shaved to raise more vital funds. If you would like to make a donation to the Baby Sam Appeal you can do so at Bank of Ireland on the Quay to account number 22850866, sort code 90-61-95.