Ward 50 councillor Angus Mckenzie, has expressed his gratitude to the community for donating so generously to Ricardo Julies who was left paralysed from the neck down after a freak diving accident.
Mr Julies was on an outing to Harmony Park in 2011, when he dived into the sea from a bridge and hit a rock, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.
He has six children and desperately pleaded with the community for help to clothe and feed his family.
Since the article was published in the Athlone News (“Paralysed man’s plea for help”, Athlone News, April 12), Mr Julies has received items from the community including two TVs, two mattresses, food, nappies, and clothing for his family.
Mr Mckenzie said the generosity of the community had given Mr Julies new hope.
“He is much happier and hopeful now than he was. It’s awesome that the community is helping. I am so happy and proud to be driving a project like this. We are really building up the camaraderie among us where people are starting to care for each other,” he said.