A NINE-YEAR-OLD Irish boy has starred in an adorable video calling on the public to do their bit during the coronavirus pandemic by staying at home.
Jack Beattie, from Raphoe in Donegal, is an example to us all.
Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, Jack had been gearing up for his ninth birthday party on March 23 when it was announced that Ireland would be going into lockdown.
It wasn’t the first time Jack’s birthday plans had been curtailed.
He wasn’t able to have a party on his seventh or eighth birthdays either due to essential surgery.
His mum Ruth, however, was determined to make it a day to remember.
Taking to social media, she launched an appeal for people to send Jack cards to mark his big day.
The public did not disappoint, with as many as 2,000 birthday cards flying in from such far-flung locations as the US, Canada and even Thailand, according to RTE.
Jack has been keeping busy since then.
An important public announcement from Sergeant Jack Beattie👮♂️ #Stayathome #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe #TogetherAtHome #COVID19 #SocialDistancing #WashYourHands pic.twitter.com/JVOEZXkNGE
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 19, 2020
Two years ago, he was made an honorary garda by officers from Letterkenny station as part of the Little Blue Heroes initiative, a garda charity that help families with children undergoing long-term medical treatment for illnesses.
Handed the rank of ‘sergeant’, it was just reward for Jack’s incredible bravery and determination, and came with some notable perks including his own uniform and regular trips to places like garda headquarters Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Unfortunately, like much at the moment, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has put paid to many of Jack’s Garda duties.
But that hasn’t prevented him from putting his uniform to good use.
Jack has filmed a short video appealing for the public to keep up with the social distancing measures that are helping Ireland flatten the curve of the pandemic.
His message is short and very sweet: stay at home and continue to save lives in the process.
If Jack is willing to sacrifice his birthday party and freedom so that Ireland gets through this – so can you.
