6,000 Steps To Open Door

Pete  Lawlor MAY20

t would appear that not being able to go out is bringing out the best in some people, as they use their lockdown time to help others.

And so, with co-founder Mary Hackett having done 100 laps of her garden for Open Door, one of its regulars decided to take his fundraising a step further.

To be precise, 6,000 steps further, despite the fact that the bould Peter Lawlor has a condition called Prader Willi Syndrome, a genetic disorder that curtails function of specific genes and can result in weak muscles, poor feeding and slow development.

So, those 6,000 steps was always going to be a much bigger leap for Peter than they would for most of mankind.

Over to the man himself to explain…

My name is Peter Lawlor I am 48 years of age, I have been attending Open Door in Bray since 1991. I go there every Wednesday and Friday and enjoy the activities. Physiotherapy helps with my physical health and I really enjoy the Ceramics with Mark and the gang. I love making presents for my family and friends. I have made so many friends in the Centre and love to chat with the staff, volunteers, and other members and I really look forward to getting back there.

I am one of the oldest people in Ireland with a condition called Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS). Some of the symptoms of PWS include weak muscles, very slow development, poor feeding as an infant which then develops into constant hunger leading to obesity and it’s many side effects and premature aging. My disability is poor balance due to weak muscles. I suffer from back problems and I had one kneecap removed.

I have been cocooning at home since the outset of Covid-19 in Ireland and my parents keep encouraging me to walk in order to maintain and improve muscle tone and balance and to prevent muscle wastage. I miss my friends and my outings so I decided to do something new.

Click de Pic for Info

My family are amazed at my improvement through my daily walking and I decided that I would like to set up a fundraiser for Open Door to help fund the activities when the Centre re-opens, by doing 6,000 steps per day. It proved to be hard work, but lots of fun. And, most importantly, the walks raised over €16,600 so far. And we’re not anywhere near the end of May yet…

You can donate to Pete’s 6,000 steps fundraiser right about here, and find out more about Open Door right over here.