Man, 72, rows Shannon in mercy mission

A 72-YEAR-OLD Co Cork man has rowed the length of the River Shannon to raise funds for an Indian boy born without legs or arms.

And it wasn’t a straightforward 320km journey for pensioner Donal Attig.

The Donoughmore man rowed a heavy, 18ft, cabin cruiser from Lough Allen in Co Leitrim to Foynes on the Shannon estuary.

He started the energy-sapping trip on June 26 last and completed it just a few days ago.

Donal never met the boy — although he talks to him by telephone nearly every week.

The boy, 9, named Tony, lives in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

“As a child he was given up by his parents to the Missionaries of Charity because he was so severely handicapped. Now, though, he is looked after by an adoptive mother, Maureen Clark. She cares for him in a family setting in India and doesn’t get a penny for it,” said Donal.

The retired businessman and friends are raising money to send Tony to a special school in Germany, which is near a specialist limb-fitting centre.

“The idea is to get him artificial limbs and a good education. He’s told me that when he grows up he wants to be a lawyer who will help poor people,” said Donal.

“Despite his obvious difficulties he is an amazingly happy boy.”

Donal has raised €4,000 from the trip so far but is expecting further contributions from outstanding collection cards.

Over the next two years, he is planning a number of “extreme adventure challenges” to raise further money for Tony.

In the meantime, a support fund account has been opened with the AIB in North Mall. The In His Footsteps account no is 18236065, sort code 934267.

“Anybody giving one euro can be assured that every cent of it will go directly to the boy. Unlike some charities there will be no deductions for administration fees,” added Donal.