Little Adam's story prompted garda to cycle west and climb 'The Reek'

A Mullingar garda has been so touched by the bravery of a six-year-old schoolboy that he has volunteered to cycle almost 200km and then climb a mountain in a bid to help raise the costs of a wheelchair for the youngster.

Garda Tomás Blake, temporarily working in Castlepollard, but whose usual role is as a community garda in Mullingar, has been enormously impressed by the determination of little Adam Boyce who attends Diarmada NS in Whitehall.

As a result, on Friday May 13, with Adam’s grandfather, Noel Boyce, Tomás plans to cycle the 180 kms to Westport, and on Saturday May 14 to make the 640m ascent of Croagh Patrick.

“Adam is an extraordinary young fella because he shouldn't even be able to walk but he's walking - with the aid of a walker - which is fantastic,” says Tomás, whose own son is in the same class.

From Adam’s parents, Danni and Shane, Tomás has heard how Adam insists on dressing himself without help – but also of his need for physiotherapy and in the longer term for a wheelchair that is likely to cost in the region of €5,000-€8,000.

Garda Blake has set up a GoFundMe page with a target of raising €1,000, to help with thre costs of Adam’s needs some of which will go to Scoil Diarmada so the school can be made as accessible as possible for young Adam.

Garda Blake is an avid cyclist and indeed in his community role in Mullingar used a bike as his mode of transport.

On Friday May 13, he and Noel will set off at 8.45am from Scoil Diarmada and take the bumpy bog road to Edgeworthstown and on to Westport!

“I expect the journey to take about 8 hours,” he says.

Recently retired garda sergeant Roger Nicholson is providing backup and support for the two and around ten others are to join Tomás and Noel on the climb.

“When I when I drop the kids off to school, you can see him flying in on his walker and he comes back out after school the same. He’s a bubby little fella, and he seems to live life the way we all should be living it – with a smile on his face - and he doesn't seem to have any worries.”

Adam has recently been accepted into the Little Blue Heroes, an organisation run by the gardaí for children who are sick.

*To contribute sponsorship see here or look up “Whitehall to Westport” on GoFundMe.