A Cork schoolboy is leading the charge for children right across Munster to get dressed up in their favourite onesies to raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes.

Brave Oran Hanrahan, eight, was diagnosed with the serious autoimmune condition at three – but doesn’t let it stand in his way. The North Monastery NS pupil is an avid hurler, soccer player and Taekwon-Do enthusiast. And now he is spearheading a Cork University Hospital Charity drive encouraging pupils to wear their favourite onesie or pyjamas to school on ‘Type Onesie Day’ on November 14.

The initiative, to which schools can sign up at cuhcharity.ie/type-onesie-day/ is designed to raise vital funds for CUH’s paediatric diabetes team and awareness about the lifelong condition, which affects thousands of children across Ireland.

Oran’s mum Amy says her son’s lust for life is even more remarkable following the sudden death of his father Séamus early last year. “He has been through a lot, but he’s such a little showman,” said Amy, from White’s Cross. “He had just turned three and towards the end of October 2020, he began getting really tired and thirsty. “I had done a first-aid course with work and something triggered in my head that it could be Type 1 diabetes.” Her instinct was correct and suddenly the family had to adapt to a new world of insulin pumps, injections and dietary advice.

But the reality of managing Type 1, she said, was quite different from her initial fears. “After the diagnosis, you think they won’t be able to live happy, healthy, normal lives. “But the team at CUH are fantastic; the dietitians and consultants, as are his teachers at North Monastery – Jill Kelly and SNA Anne McCarthy, and there’s a lovely group chat with Type 1 mums in Cork.

“Oran is very good, he’s carb counting and takes it all in his stride.

“He has a phone and wears a Dexcom monitor (which constantly assesses his glucose levels), and that sends all the readings to his pump and then the pump gives him small amounts of insulin.

“And he is the first to correct people, that with Type 1 you can have sugar, you just need to bolus (an insulin dose taken at meal times to control

blood glucose levels).”

As well as encouraging everyone to embrace Type Onesie Day, the schoolboy is busy with his GAA club in White’s Cross, St Mary’s AFC under-9s, North Mon Taekwon-Do club, swimming and a new-found interest in the accordion. Conor Cronin, an advanced nurse practitioner in CUH’s paediatric diabetes unit, said several activities are organised for children living with diabetes, so they have support inside and outside the hospital setting.

“We find it’s good for the kids, who have the chance to meet other children, as sometimes they don’t really engage in a hospital setting,” he said.

“We go wall climbing, on trips to The Cookery Cottage and Farran Woods. “Oran is a prime example of someone who doesn’t let diabetes hold him back and that’s the message we want to get across to them all, that they are not restricted, they can live perfectly normal lives and they control the diabetes, it doesn’t control them.”

CUH currently cares for 500 children with Type 1, from across Cork, Kerry and South Tipperary.

Schools across Munster are asked to register to take part in Type Onesie day at: https://www.cuhcharity.ie/type-onesie-day/

Students and their families are asked to make a donation and share photos from the day on social media using the hashtag #TypeOnesieDay.

Written by Niall Moonan.

Sign up to Type Onsie Day Here!

Find out more Oran’s Story on Youtube Here!