Charity in 'uphill' bid to raise funds to help more than 400 children 

Lilly Parackal, age 3, from Roscam, Galway, with her Mum Edel Parackal and Jack Carty, captain of Connacht Rugby team, who is a Jack and Jill ambassador.  Picture: Andrew Downes

Three-year-old Lilly Parackal from Galway spent much of the first year of her life in hospital, having been diagnosed with a chromosome 2 imbalance. This left Lilly with developmental delays, heart and lung problems, and needing to be tube-fed.

Her mother Edel said that the family would struggle to cope without the help of a nurse from the Jack and Jill Foundation, who helps with her full-time care at home.