THE kindness of strangers can be quantified in that 75% of the 9,500 people who have donated to the StandForFéile GoFundMe campaign live beyond the Beara Peninsula.

The personal story of 13-year-old Féile O’Sullivan from Allihies has gone global with donations coming in from people all over the world who are inspired by her ‘can do’ spirit after both of her legs had to be amputated following a farming accident 12 weeks ago.

‘The response has been phenomenal when you put into context where we are from,’ said Cllr Finbarr Harrington, who together with other Garnish GAA members, Cormac McMahon, Liz O’Leary, and Ollie Rue O’Sullivan, are leading the fundraising campaign.

‘Where we live is a very small parish of about 300 adults and 50 pupils in the national school. We are on the tip of the Beara Peninsula, surrounded by water to the south, west and north of us.

People in Feile O'Sullivan's community are doing everyting they can to provide her with support.

‘When you look at it geographically we are on the periphery of the Beara Peninsula, 100 miles from Cork city, so the support, goodwill and love Féile has received from people all over the world has been incredible,’ he said.

The 9,500 donations so far have amounted to €639,300, which will be used to cover Féile’s medical expenses, the cost of adapting her home, and providing her with ongoing care and support.

‘People have donated to the story of this tragic accident that happened this lovely 13-year-old girl who ended up losing her legs,’ said Finbarr.

‘I think everyone felt her pain. Everybody in the farming community were aware: “It could have been us.” Anyone with kids felt that too.

‘People in sporting organisations knew Féile was very involved in sport, and a whole array of people reached out to show her an unbelievable amount of decency and love.’

In the midst of a conversation about the many ways people are helping, Finbarr mentioned something that happened last week.

He said: ‘A family, up the country, had bought a new electric wheelchair for their aunt but unfortunately for them their aunt died before she got to use the chair. They were going to donate the chair to charity but they saw the Féile story through social media and in the newspapers and they reached out to the committee.

‘Ollie drove for nine hours to meet the family and they gave us the brand-new electric chair, which is worth about €7,000,’ he added.

That random act of kindness came from outside the area. But locals continue to show their support like last Saturday’s 6am to 6pm SwimForFéile event at the waterfront at Berehaven Golf Club.

A total of 116 swimmers – which was another phenomenal number for such a small place – turned up to do a 10-minute dip for a €10 donation, and raised €2,705.

‘It was a fabulous turn-out,’ said Julie Farrelly, one of the organisers. ‘Beara transition year students cooked and baked for us, while David Hurley, the manager of the Berehaven Golf Club, was there from 5am and kept up a constant supply of teas, coffees and scones throughout the day.’

David even laid on hot showers for the swimmers, which was another expression of the kindness of Féile’s community.