All Black Carter reaches out to ill Irish teen
Cancer-battling Kerry teen Donal Walsh has already been cited as an inspiration by rugby stars including Paul O'Connell, but his latest fan hails from none other than the All Blacks.
Legendary New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has contacted Donal to offer his support, as evidenced by the below tweet.
.@Donal_Walsh_ check your voice messages mate as just tried calling you. Best wishes with everything & keep smiling #truechampion
— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) April 16, 2013
Donal was obviously touched by the gesture.
@DanCarter thanks very much! It means a lot coming all the way from New Zealand not to mind you! Ill do my best and hope you're keeping well
— Elma Walsh (@Donal_Walsh_) April 16, 2013
Sixteen-year-old Donal, who is terminally ill with cancer, has come to prominence in recent weeks after publication of a letter he wrote advocating young people to value their lives, saying teen suicide was an issue that angered him.
Donal, from Blennerville, Tralee, also made an appearance on RTÉ's Saturday Night Show in which he spoke with bravery and honesty about his illness and the appreciation of life it had given him.
The sports-mad teen was told in October last that there was no more treatment for his cancer.
"So as long as I find peace over the next weeks and content in my life I will be happy," he told interviewer Brendan O'Connor.
Watch a clip from the interview below:
