Injured student overwhelmed by friends' fundraising efforts
Tuesday August 26 2008
HIT-and-run victim Aline Barros (26) has been overwhelmed by the efforts to raise money for her after she was left paralysed from the waist down.
The brave Brazilian has been hospitalised in the Mater since she was knocked from her bike by a truck a month ago.
Friends, fellow students, Brazilians and Dubliners have rallied around the law student since her accident to raise funds. They want to pay for some of her family to travel to Dublin and to help Aline adjust to life in Brazil when she returns.
One of her teachers, Mark Power, from her English language school Eden College, is holding an event next week.
"I'm putting together a benefit night in the Turk's Head pub in Temple bar in the back section," he said. "We are going to plug tickets through our students at €10."
The event will be held on Wednesday, September 3, which is the preferred night out of the Brazilian community in Dublin.
There will be a Brazilian band, two DJs, karaoke and spot prizes on the night
On September 15, Leixlip City Council are organising a fundraiser for Aline and in October her solicitors have arranged a Halloween Party in the Russell Court Hotel.
Her family live in the small town of Varginha in the province of Minas Gerais and have not been able to travel over to be by her bedside.
But Aline is in contact with her mother regularly using video calling.
"I have a laptop and on that there is a camera and I hook up with my mother over those," Aline said.
"All of them would like to help, but it's hard from a distance."
Anyone wishing to contribute money to Aline can send it to her AIB account: sort code: 93-32-95 and account number: 07636182.
- Sarah Neville
