A crowd attended a family fundraising day in New Ross Sunday where a significant sum was raised to help blind Co Wexford girl Tiana O'Gorman get the special high tech glasses she needs to be able to have limited vision. Tiana, from Clongeen, is a 4-year-old girl who was born blind and later diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia.
“Tiana was only a few weeks old when I learned she had no sight,” her mother Sarah said. “It does hold her back; she is also developmentally delayed and has other health issues. Tiana is such a beautiful, clever little girl, always full of smiles.”
She set up a Gofundme to be able to buy eSight glasses for her daughter. “They’re like glasses that go over the eyes but they zoom in on everything and that gets a clearer picture.”
Ever since Tiana was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia, Sarah has been trying to find ways to help her see, even if her sight can only be limited.
“Her life wasn’t the easiest from the start to say the least,” said Karen Murphy who is organising a family fun day this Sunday to raise money for Tiana. The fundraiser is at New Ross Celtic FC, Hospital Road, New Ross, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“I came across Facebook post about Tiana and her condition, and my heart dropped when I read her story. From that day onwards, I couldn’t stop thinking about it, until eventually an idea crossed my mind. I began by contacting Tiana’s mother, to ask if they need any support. As expected, donations weren’t coming in fast enough so I decided to jump in to help as much as I could,” said Karen.
“That’s when I started to come up with a plan. I had this vision in my head and after consulting my family and friends I decided to bring it to Sarah’s attention. My main goal was to help Tiana, but I couldn’t do that without our whole community coming together, hence the idea of the family fun day. I’ve organised charity events before, but not to this scale.
“The amount of work that has been put into this is incredible. Most local businesses around New Ross have generously donated money or prizes. The Traveller community have been amazing with sponsoring me hundreds of euros to pay for the event day; I couldn’t be happier for little Tiana.
“She’s an amazing little girl, and deserves the best. I can’t wait to see her wear the new glasses, and I hope you can all join us this Sunday. All donations and money raised will go towards Tiana’s goal, which is €15,000.”
Karen Murphy saw Tiana's story on social media and donated an XBox One, before setting out to organise a fundraiser at New Ross Celtic.
“We had lovely weather. There was a nice crowd and we raised a significant sum.” People enjoyed a variety of rides, carnival stalls, ice cream, face painting, two big obstacle courses, a bouncy castle and bingo, with very generous prizes.
Some of the service providers made donations to Tiana’s fundraiser, which needs €15,000 for her eSight glasses.
Community Rallies Around Tiana
The outpouring of support for Tiana's cause was evident in the success of the fundraiser. Karen's dedication and the generosity of the local community played a pivotal role in raising a significant amount towards Tiana's goal. The family fun day provided a platform for the community to come together, offering entertainment for all ages while raising awareness and funds for Tiana's journey towards experiencing sight.
Hope for the Future
The success of the fundraiser has brought Tiana one step closer to her dream of being able to see. The eSight glasses, which are a specialized form of assistive technology, can provide users with limited vision. The glasses work by magnifying images and displaying them in a clear and focused manner.
While the journey to full sight remains a long one, the community's support has given Tiana and her family hope for the future. As Tiana's mother stated, “I would love for Tiana to have that chance in life to see how thoroughly beautiful she is and to explore a bit in life. It would be my dream come through for my daughter.” The community's unwavering support and Tiana's determination to see the world are testament to the indomitable human spirit.
A Call to Action
While the fundraising event was a success, the journey is far from over. Tiana's family is still striving to reach their goal of €15,000 for the eSight glasses. Those who wish to contribute to Tiana's journey can do so by visiting her Gofundme page or by contacting Karen Murphy directly. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, will help Tiana take another step towards experiencing the world in a whole new light.
