Athy rallies to support Gary's GP goal

AN Athy man has started a GoFundMe page to finance his first year in medical school and has already raised more that half his €16,000 target.

Very appropriately, the page is called ‘It Takes a Village’ and the founder, Gary Kelly (30), is very grateful to his neighbours.

“My community and my town have changed my life by making this dream come true,” said Gary.

He has been accepted as one of 150 students on a post-graduate medical degree in the University of Limerick which will take four years to complete.

This won’t be such a leap from his primary degree after he graduated from SETU Carlow in bio-pharmacy.

 “For as long as I can remember, my dream has been to become a doctor and serve my community,” he said.

“I've been working toward this goal for years, and all that hard work has paid off.

“I've been accepted into the University of Limerick's medical school.

“Securing a place was the hardest part, and now I'm facing the next challenge - the financial costs of getting started,” he said.

Gary set a target of €16,000, and has already raised over €8,300.

“This is fantastic, it’s life-changing,” he said.

Gary has been heading this direction for the last 20 years.

“My uncle gave me my first stethoscope when I was 10, and I joined the Order of Malta then, when I came out of a surgery, that’s where the love grew,” he explained.

“Athy is a growing town, and with new housing developments, our need for healthcare services is expanding more than ever.

“The shortage of GPs is a national crisis, and I want to be part of the solution right here at home.

“I’ve volunteered with the Order of Malta for years, which has only deepened my passion for healthcare and helping others.

“Becoming a doctor would be life-changing for me, as the first in my family to pursue this professional career, but more importantly, it would allow me to make a real impact on our town's future.

“The day my father died, only about 30 minutes before he did, he told me that no matter what, I need to become a doctor. I told him how unwell he was when his own doctor thought he had a chest infection. I don't have a hidden intuition but my experience and the hours I have spent reading medical books and articles gave me insight to his presenting symptoms, which helped us to get him the care he needed and to die with dignity.

“He implored that I pursue this path because I have so much to offer humanity and so much compassion to share.

“Every donation, no matter the size, will help to bring me one step closer to making this dream a reality and helping to ensure our community has the care it needs for generations to come.

“Our children and the elderly are at the greatest risk of a lack of primary healthcare, delaying treatments for illnesses that can be managed at primary care and in the community. This has lasting effects on a person's life, and it also puts our hospitals under immense pressure, a system already on the brink of failure."