Golfers gather for charity tournament in aid of one-year-old girl
Golfers in Dublin have been asked to take part in a charity tournament this afternoon to help a seriously-ill girl.
One-year-old Elie Madden has a rare disorder which is prevented her oesophagus from developing properly, leaving her unable to eat, swallow or drink.
Proceeds from this afternoon's tournament, teeing off shortly after noon at Swords Open Golf Club in North Dublin, will go towards Elie's after-care treatment.
Her father Eddie said that Elie has had to battle since the day she was born.
"She had no oesophagus joining up to her stomach," he said.
"She had a tracheotomy so her windpipe was collapsing so she had an artificial tube put in there just to help her breathe through a ventilator.
"She had two major heart surgeries prior to that. So at the moment, she underwent for the last five months pioneering surgery in Boston Children's Hospital to grow her oesophagus through stimulants."
