An 11-year-old girl from Tipperary will sit the Junior Certificate maths paper next month in a bid to raise funds for a worthy cause.
Her fundraiser has already hit the halfway mark towards €10,000.
Cara Darmody, a fifth class student from Ardfinnan National School, will sit the Junior Cert maths paper on June 10th, alongside thousands of 3rd-year students across the country.
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She is raising funds for her school Ardfinnan, as well as Scoil Chormaic Special Needs School in Cashel, where her brothers Neil and John, who are non-verbal with Autism, attend.
The fundraiser was launched in a bid to raise funds to ensure that every child has the same chance.
On the GoFundMe page, Cara said: “Our family are friends with so many other families that cannot get services such as Speech & Language, OT, Play Therapy and Psychology.
“It really annoys me that nobody is doing anything about it. These kids are at a disadvantage due to the lack of services.
“So I want to do something about it. I want to raise money to give everyone the same chance.”
The eleven-year-old loves maths, and decided to study the whole 3-year Junior Cycle Ordinary Level curriculum. She started last September and has done it in 8 months with the help of her parents and school.
“I am now going to attempt to sit the Junior Cycle Maths paper on June the 10th, with all money received to be split equally between the two schools,” she said.
“I really hope you can donate and help. I really need your help with this project. Thank you so much. Your friend, Cara.”
Not only is she raising much-needed funds, Cara is also making history - by becoming the first primary school student in the country to attempt such a task.
Cara’s Extraordinary Maths Challenge has already raised over €6,800 of the overall €10,000 goal.
Her attempt has gotten the attention of a number of media outlets, and she will join Ray D’Arcy on his RTE radio show next Tuesday.
On an update on the page, she wrote: “I'm so happy that I will get a chance to talk about the lack of services issue on national radio!!! I wonder will he have Dustin The Turkey with him.”
In another update, Cara said: “I'm now asking politicians to get me in front of the Taoiseach or Tanaiste so that I can tell them everything that is wrong with the lack of services! Hope I get a meeting!!! Wish me luck! Your friend, Cara.”
Donations can be made through Cara’s GoFundMe page.
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