Fundraiser launched to support All-Ireland star Eimear, who is losing sight to a rare disease at 24
A fundraiser has been launched for an All-Ireland winning star after she was diagnosed with an incredibly rare and incurable disease.Eimear McAndrew, 24, from Cork, has been diagnosed with early-onset Spinocerebellar Ataxia 7 (SCA7). It's a rare progressive degenerative neurological disease, and there is currently no known cure and it can lead to total blindness.Eimear has already lost a lot of her eyesight, and her movement is deteriorating. The former dual player currently works for the Bank of England in London as an Apprentice Actuary.Eimear won an All-Ireland Schools Junior Football medal with Christ King Secondary School in 2013 when she was just 13 years-old.The fundraiser, which was launched on GoFundMe this week, reads: "Despite her serious challenges Eimear is persevering with her studies and is determined to complete her exams. Anyone who knows Eimear knows she is a warrior and she is fighting hard."Eimear’s story is one of unwavering resilience. Growing up in Ireland, her life was defined by a love of sport at which she excelled, representing her County in Camogie and Football, winning All Ireland medals in Football and one in Soccer. She worked very hard achieving high grades on the violin and flute."Her life, her dreams, her plans for a future all destroyed by the diagnosis."Eimear's former club, Ballygarvan Camogie Club, said "Eimear was a former player with Ballygarvan Camogie Club and was a fantastic player and role model."All donations collected will be going towards SCA7 research and treatment development.This work has been started in Leiden University, Holland in collaboration with Cure Rare Diseases.The GoFundMe has, to date, raised almost €33,000 of the €180,000 target. To donate, click here.Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives... To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here.
