A YOUNG schoolboy has gone above and beyond by exceeding the target for his step challenge fundraiser for Coeliac UK.
Cian Murphy, 11, has been completing a step challenge that originally saw him aiming to walk 50,000 steps in one week, with more than £1600 already raised for charity.
Despite the tricky challenge of 50,000 steps, he smashed his target by reaching 250,000 steps.
Cian, from Giffnock, said: “I did it because I wanted other kids who have coeliac disease to feel better and show them what it’s like to live with.
“I was supposed to do a 50,000-step challenge and I have ended up doing 250,000 steps throughout the week.”
He was inspired to raise money for Coeliac UK after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2019.
Coeliac disease is a condition in which a person’s immune system attacks their own tissue when they consume gluten, with those diagnosed restricted to a gluten-free diet.
Cian, a P6 pupil at Our Lady of the Missions Primary School, has been walking in his neighbourhood to and from school, and also using his activities such as football to reach his target and beyond.
He said: “I play for two football teams, and I play Gaelic football and I also go to Cubs.
“My two brothers also go to football with me, and they have been encouraging me to keep going."
Cian is a keen fan of both Celtic and Liverpool, and hopes that one of his heroes will take notice of his fundraising efforts.
He said: “I want to be a footballer when I grow up.
“Andy Robertson is one of my favourite players, I would love it if he saw my fundraiser.”
Pauline, Cian’s mum, says that family from all over have been helping to keep Cian going throughout the fundraiser.
She said: “All of his friends and our family have been so supportive.
“We couldn’t be prouder of what he has been able to do.
“His little brothers gave him their pocket money towards the fundraiser and his auntie in Ireland has been doing steps along with him.
“The fundraiser has even helped Cian to gain confidence.”
Alongside the challenge, Cian has been able to give presentations about coeliac disease to his fellow pupils in school.
Pauline said: “He has always been quite shy but doing these presentations have been great for Cian and you can see him getting more confident.
“Cian has had severe allergies for most of his life, so adapting to having coeliac disease wasn’t too difficult for us as we were used to cutting out foods.
“It’s great to see him take this negative and turn it into a positive.”
Cian said: “I really enjoyed the presentations and want to be able to do more in the future.
“I think it is important that people my age understand what coeliac disease is, and for people my age who do have it to know that it’s not something to be scared of.”
To donate to Cian's fundraiser, you can visit his fundraising page by clicking here.
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