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You are > Home > Darren Cawley is crowned Ireland’s ‘Local Hero’
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Darren Cawley is crowned Ireland’s ‘Local Hero’
Westport man Darren Cawley was last week (Tuesday) named as the inaugural winner of the Santa Rita 120 Local Hero campaign.
Darren received his award at an evening reception in The Cellar Bar of The Merrion Hotel in Dublin.
Hundreds of nominations were received from the four corners of the country but after much consideration the judging panel made up of publisher PJ Gibbons, columnist Trevor White and real life heroine Vivienne Traynor from RTE, who earlier this year donated a kidney to her nephew, decided that Darren epitomised all they were looking for in a Local Hero.
Vivienne said “There are so many ordinary people doing extraordinary things day in and day out but for us Darren’s enthusiasm and willingness to help others even though he battles illness shone out”.
In 2009, the 32-year-old was presented a Western People Mayo Sports Award after his major gold medal haul at the European Transplant & Dialysis Games. Having suffered kidney failure eight years ago, Darren has been on dialysis ever since. He has been on the transplant waiting list for five years and according to Darren, “dialysis is normal!”.
Darren, who was a key speaker at the launch of the 2010 European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Dublin, is a tireless fundraiser for the Irish Kidney Association, Punchestown Kidney Research Fund and Friends of Dialysis in Castlebar.
“I can’t believe I am the first Santa Rita 120 Local Hero. This is huge for me and I will be donating the €10,000 towards the Irish team’s involvement in the European Transplant & Dialysis Games this August in Dublin” said Darren.
Terry Pennington from Gilbeys of Ireland (distributor for Santa Rita wines) said today "Darren is a worthy winner and has truly made a difference to his local community and indeed at a national level. We wish him the very best of luck in the forthcoming Transplant and Dialysis Games".
Darren and his sister Martina Cullen who nominated him have both won trips of a lifetime for 2 to Chile. Darren has also won €10,000 for his nominated piece of community activity.
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