![\"Cork](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/4830288_9_articleinline_Type_20Onesie_1_.jpg\" "\\"Cork")
Cork schoolboy Oran Hanrahan. Picture: Brian Lougheed.<\/p>\nAn eight-year-old from Cork is heading a campaign to get children across Munster to dress up in their favourite onesies to raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes.<\/p>\n
Oran Hanrahan, a North Monastery NS pupil from White\u2019s Cross, was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition at the age of three.<\/p>\n
Oran, an avid hurler, soccer player, and Taekwon-Do enthusiast, is now 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.<\/p>\n
The initiative, to which schools can sign up at cuhcharity.ie\/type-onesie-day is designed to raise vital funds for CUH\u2019s paediatric diabetes team and awareness about the lifelong condition, which affects thousands of children across Ireland.<\/p>\n
Oran\u2019s mother Amy said her son\u2019s lust for life was even more remarkable following the sudden death of his father, S\u00e9amus, early last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has been through a lot, but he\u2019s such a little showman,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cHe 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.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
Following Oran\u2019s diagnosis, the family had to adapt to a new world of insulin pumps, injections, and dietary advice.<\/p>\n
But the reality of managing Type 1, Ms Hanrahan said, was quite different from her initial fears.<\/p>\n
Cork schoolboy Oran Hanrahan. Picture: Brian Lougheed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the diagnosis, you think they won\u2019t be able to live happy, healthy, normal lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the team at CUH is fantastic; the dietitians and consultants, as are his teachers at North Monastery \u2014 Jill Kelly and SNA Anne McCarthy \u2014 and there\u2019s a lovely group chat with Type 1 mums in Cork.<\/p>\n
\u201cOran carb-counts, and takes it all in his stride.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cHe 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.\n <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he is the first to correct people, that with Type 1 you can have sugar, you just need to bolus \u2014 an insulin dose taken at meal times to control blood glucose levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
As well as encouraging everyone to embrace Type Onesie Day, Oran is busy with his GAA club in White\u2019s Cross, St Mary\u2019s AFC under-9s, North Mon Taekwon-Do club, swimming, and the accordion.<\/p>\n