A big-hearted Derry teenager has dedicated herself to saving the life of a boy she has never met.
Orla Wilson was so moved by the story of 11-year-old Billy Caldwell, who needs a brain operation to combat severe epilepsy, she has devoted all her spare time to helping hit his £300,000 fundraising target.
The 16-year-old gets up at 5.30am every Sunday, while other teenagers are asleep in their beds, to go to a charity car boot sale in Greysteel.
She has also used her pocket money to buy purple ribbons and pins which she is making into charity badges.
Billy, who is from Castlederg, suffers from two life threatening forms of epilepsy and has daily seizures, any one of which could kill him.
He is currently in Los Angles with his mother Christine where he is being assessed by world class doctors.
Orla found out about Billy when her mum Christine Wilson’s employer, domiciliary care company ‘Glen Caring’ began fundraising for him.
“She looked him up on the computer and she came off it in tears,” said Mrs Wilson.
“She had never met him but all she talks about is how she can help Billy.
“She’ll come home from work and get her homework done and then she’ll she what she can do
for Billy.”
Orla has been hard at work for months carrying out bucket collections and has now enlisted the help of her school, St Cecilia’s College, who are going to hold a non-uniform day for Billy.
“I’m so, so proud of her,” said Mrs Wilson.
“I’m just amazed at her hard work and dedication.
“She has held a presentation at her school with a slide show to tell them about Billy.
“I’ve met him and he would just melt your heart.
“He knows he’s not well but he doesn’t understand what’s wrong with him.
“Orla’s dream is to meet him herself now when he comes home from America.”
Orla said she had a brother the same age as Billy.
She said: “Billy is a very special boy who has touched my heart. He really needs help and my doing little things will hopefully lead to getting Billy his treatment.”
Sharon McIlwaine, manager of Glen Caring Services, says all her staff were behind the efforts to raise the £300,000 needed for Billy s lifesaving operation.
“I think people don’t realise how serious epilepsy can be,” she said.
“This really is a matter of life and death for Billy.
“He is more prone to seizures a night so his mum sleeps beside him with her hand on his back so she will wake up if he has one.
“The bottom line is Billy needs to have this done.”
Photo shows Orla making her ribbons.
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