Inishowen’s super hero

A young Clonmany girl who battled cancer became a real life superhero recently as she raised funds for a children’s hospital. Six-year-old Tegan Doherty joined clown doctors, staff, patients and their families to take part in the first ever Superhero Fun Run in Dublin’s Phoenix Park in aid of the Children’s Cancer Fund at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin in association with Golden Pages. The Clonmany National School pupil was a patient at the hospital after being diagnosed with Neuroblastoma just before her second birthday. She underwent 13 months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as well as surgery and a full bone marrow transplant. The recent fun run will enable the hospital to refurbish and upgrade the St John’s Ward and it was a cause Tegan and her parents, Claire and Matthew wanted to strongly support. Tegan previously raised a whopping 20,000 euro for both the ward and the Ronald McDonald House, which provides lodging in the grounds of Our Lady’s Hospital for patients and their families. She raised a further 1,000 euro from the Superhero Run, at which she was joined by her mother, who jogged the five kilometres, while Tegan took part in the 500 metre dash as Superwoman. Speaking to the Inish Times, her mother Claire explained how proud she was of her daughter and revealed she was soon to embark on another fundraising mission. She said: “Tegan had a great time at the run and loved dressing up as Superwoman. The St John’s Ward is a fantastic facility, the staff are brilliant and you want to give it all the support you can. “We’re very proud of Tegan, she’s gone through a lot but she just gets on with things and is doing so well at school. We have to say, Clonmany National School is so good to her and give her so much help and support. “The Ronald McDonald House is also another facility that was invaluable. Anytime we were in Dublin with Tegan we called on them and they always went out of their way to help. They provide so much support and that is why I’ll be running the Dublin Mini Marathon on Monday next along with Karen Jackson and Noeleen Doherty in aid of Ronald McDonald House. All support would be greatly appreciated!”