Brenda and Marius Rooney RMG99
WHEN Roslea man Marius Rooney suffered a traumatic brain injury after being assaulted while at college in Belfast almost 15 years ago, it seemed like his life may never be the same again.
Instead, with a strong support network of family and friends and help from local charity the Cedar Foundation, Marius overcame his injuries and went on to raise tens of thousands for local charities.
Through rehabilitation and cognitive training, the foundation helped Marius overcome the barriers he faced as a result of his injuries. Project officer with the charity in Enniskillen, Darragh Collins, said during his time there, Marius’s “can do attitude” and “determination not to let those who assaulted him dictate his future” had a great impact on other users of the charity.
“To use Marius’ mother’s words, ‘it was touch and go for a long time’,” said Mr Collins, referring to when Marius first came to the foundation in 2002. “However, as we came to realise, Marius is a very special individual with a great appetite for life and has yet to be beaten in any challenge he has faced.”
While Marius has said he will “never be 100 per cent”, he is now working fulltime and has one son and a baby on the way with wife Brenda. He also went back to college and not only finished his HND in building surveying in Belfast, but went on to get a degree from Ulster University.
Marius has raised over £7,000 for the Cedar Foundation in the past number of years, most recently through a great night of music and storytelling night which he ran in Roslea in November.
Modest Marius, who has raised a total of almost £20,000 for local charities through a range of events, credited his family and friends for helping him raise the funds.
“Every year we do wee bits and pieces for different local charities. I have a bunch of friends who are always mad to help out,” he said. “The people in Roslea and surrounding areas are great too. Every door I went to I didn’t even have to open my mouth to say what I was selling.”
Last year, for example, Marius and his good friend Eamon Lynam raised thousands for local charities close to their hearts through a ten-mile run, cycle and walk “over a big hill” from Moanes Cross to Clones. The pair will be organising the event again this summer.
“To say he is a success story is something of an understatement,” said Mr Collins. “Cedar are very grateful for all he has done, not only in terms of financial support and promotion of the service, but for allowing us to play a part, however small, in his story.”
When asked what the secret to his success was, Marius said:
“I didn’t want to sit and look back in 10 years time and think what I missed out on. A friend of mine said at the time, you have to play the hand you’re dealt. You can play it the way I’ve played it, or you can sit around feeling sorry for yourself.”
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