A GOOD CAUSE

A specially commissioned coin remembering Adrian O’Grady has raised valuable funds for a charity that meant a lot to his family.

Achallenge coin dedicated to the memory of the much-missed Adrian “Aido” O’Grady and honouring the work of the DFB Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team was created in spring to raise funds for Down Syndrome Carlow, a charity that meant a lot to the Tallaght-based S/O.

Adrian, the coordinator of the Critical Incident Stress Management team that provided crisis intervention and counselling services to colleagues, will be sadly missed after his sudden passing in 2018, but his colleagues commissioned the coin to honour his memory and raise funds for the charity.

“The challenge coin is dedicated to Adrian O’Grady, who was a great friend and colleague,” Tallaght FF/P Derek Riordan, who coordinated the fundraiser alongside Darren Donavon, Podge Thompson and Brian Doyle, said. “It’s a tribute to CISM and the team there because they go above and beyond to promote the mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. And the money raised will go to a place that would have been very close to Aido’s heart.”

Adrian had a very close affi nity with his nephew Daniel, who was born with Down Syndrome, and the charity has helped Daniel’s parents receive the support they need.

FF/AP Riordan spoke to Aido’s wife Helen to discuss a charity of choice to donate the proceeds of the coin sales, and her immediate response was Down Syndrome Carlow.

Helen O’Grady and A/C/F/O Greg O’Dwyer with the cheque for Down Syndrome Carlow.

Speaking to a local newspaper, Helen said: “Adrian was a big, big man and Daniel was so small before Adrian died, but he’d walk in and throw Daniel up into his arms. It’s so unfortunate that Adrian died when he did because he never got to fulfi l all the plans he had to help Daniel in his later life. he had to help Daniel in his later life.

“When the lads in Dublin Fire Brigade said the money was going to go to Down Syndrome Carlow, it was fantastic. That’s Adrian doing something for Daniel now.”

The coins went on sale for 10 each, with all proceeds going directly to the charity, and in April, Helen O’Grady collected the cheque for 4,840 to give to them.