X Factor winner Sam Bailey jets in for autism charity event
X FACTOR winner Sam Bailey jetted in to Ireland over the weekend to attend a charity event for autism.
The 'Happy Birthday Charlie' event was was held in the Powerscourt hotel in Co Wicklow as part of the Charlie Chapman Film Festival.
The Oscars style ball was held in aid of Irish Autism Action.
X Factor star Sam performed her first ever solo Irish gig as part of the bash.
The ball was held as [part of the event to commemorate what would have been Chapman's 125th birthday.
It is believed that the legendary silent movie star was autistic.
Among the attendees was former Boyzone star Keith Duffy and life Lisa, whose young daughter Mia is autistic.
Speaking earlier this month at the launch of Autism Awareness Month at Croke Park he said that initally, both he and his wife were reluctant to accept Mia's autism. "I knew it was going to break Lisa's heart," he said. "It was very scary, putting a name on it made it real."
When doctors broke the news to the couple that their little girl Mia was on the austim spectrum and she might never talk, Lisa said her world collapsed.
"I fell apart and Keith wouldn't allow himself. His strength was finding out everything he needed to find out. Keith was not going to give up on getting her the right, appropriate education.
"He said to me, 'We're her voice now and we're going to get what we need for her.
"Even in the midst of all the sadness and the despair, we still like to laugh together. Keith knows me better than I know myself. He can read me like a book and that's what the years have done for us."
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![Five year old Kate Fitzpatrick pictured as she supports her Mum Anna [ who is a community Nurse in Meath] during the rally at Merrion Square, in support of Nurses and Midwives pay. Picture Credit:Frank McGrath
9/2/19](https://cdn-01.independent.ie/incoming/article37800637.ece/44d0f/AUTOCROP/w90square/strike001.jpg "Five year old Kate Fitzpatrick pictured as she supports her Mum Anna [ who is a community Nurse in Meath] during the rally at Merrion Square, in support of Nurses and Midwives pay. Picture Credit:Frank McGrath
9/2/19")
