Cork girl 'turns a negative into a positive' by playing 20 sports in her Communion dress for charity

Communion girls are normally whiter than white but one youngster bathed in mud on what would have been her special day in order to raise funds for Barnardos.

Lucy Hall saw her big day cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so she made a commitment to complete challenges in 20 different sports in her white dress in order to raise funds for vulnerable children.

Lucy, who attends St Columba's National School in Douglas, Cork, decided that tug of war and egg and spoon races in her dress were just the activities to raise money for the charity.

Her mother Jill said that Lucy's pristine white dress ended up covered in mud. However, she didn't care less as she had such a magical day.

"Lucy really turned a negative into a positive. She made the decision to raise funds for Barnardos. She did Tik Tok videos in the river in her dress. She did 20 different sports. She cycled through the McDonald's empty drive thru. Camogie and sack races. She was up to everything.

"It was a win-win because she enjoyed it and she made money for charity. She will always have the memories of the special day. She wanted to help others less fortunate than her.”

Lucy's grandfather made her a go cart which she used for one of her challenges.

She spent Sunday in front of the TV watching movies after her exhausting antics on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Barnardos has rapidly adapted their services to children and families since the Covid-19 crisis began.

They are currently working with 1,720 families who require critical and intensive support, and have 587 waiting for their help.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure we can keep supporting children who were already living in very vulnerable circumstances.

"Many are experiencing a pressure cooker effect due to Covid-19 measures – children are living with domestic abuse, parental mental health challenges, neglect, acrimonious separation and family breakdown and addiction – now with no escape.”

Lucy has raised over €700 for the charity to date.

You can donate to the cause online.