Charity record to raise funds for Jacob’s treatment
By Eoin English
Monday, March 15, 2010
A CHARITY record is to be produced to help raise funds to treat a little boy born without eyes.
Cork band The Project said they were so moved by little Jacob Nowak’s plight that they plan to record the Labi Siffre classic, Something Inside So Strong, and donate all the proceeds to the Baby Jacob Fund.
Jacob was born last August with the exceptionally rare condition anophthalmia, which affects fewer than one in 100,000 children.
It left him with without eyeballs or optic nerves. He will always be blind.
He has already begun essential treatment at a specialist centre in Rostok, Germany, which involves the fitting of special socket extenders and prosthetic eyes to ensure that his skull grows normally.
The last operation was in November. He travelled to Germany again yesterday because the devices must be fitted every few months until he is six.
His parents, Mariusz and Wiola, both 29, are originally from Poland but have been living and working in Millstreet, Co Cork, since 2006. They face the daunting prospect of trying to find an estimated €300,000 to fund the treatment.
Rose O’Neill of The Project said she was deeply moved by baby Jacob’s plight and felt "utterly compelled to get involved".
She has secured a recording engineer and a digital studio but she is looking for more help recording the song and selling it online.
The record will be available mainly as an online download, but it’s also hoped to secure a network of outlets where CDs can be sold when it is released, hopefully in April.
"We are looking for people to donate their professional help as every cent we raise will go to Jacob and his family. We need to get this moving in the next few days," Rose said.
Jacob’s dad Mariusz said: "We are delighted to hear of such an idea to help our little son and words cannot express our gratitude."
The family has established the Baby Jacob Trust and website www.babyjacob.ie.
Donations can be made online or at AIB: number 06553035; sort code 93-61-54. For international transfers IBAN: IE40AIBK 93615406553035 SWIFT: AIBKIE2D.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, March 15, 2010
