A FOUNDATION set up in memory of a young woman who tragically died while mountain climbing in Singapore is taking a group of young people from Derry to the Asian Gaelic Games in China.
Lisa Orsi was just 22 when she succumbed to severe altitude sickness in March of last year – but the Live Life Foundation set up in her name will be launched by GAA pundit and former player Joe Brolly today.
It will celebrate Lisa’s amazing enthusiasm for life, her love of Gaelic Games and her unquenchable thirst for travel and adventure.
The project aims to give 40 young people who are members of Gaelic clubs in Derry the opportunity to travel to Shanghai for the Gaelic Games in November.
Each of the young people must demonstrate independence, enthusiasm and good social conscience; qualities Lisa Orsi had in abundance.
Lisa’s father Denis said the inspiration for the project came from a visit to the Asian Gaelic Games last year, when he presented the winning cup which had been renamed in Lisa’s honour.
Mr Orsi said: “We were invited to present the cup at the Asian Gaelic Games last year and while we were there we got to spend time with the young people who were taking part in the games, and I have to say, I have never come across such a truly inspirational group.
“They were such good ambassadors for their clubs that I thought if we could create ambassadors from the Gaelic clubs in Derry and take them out to the Asian Gaelic Games it would be a good legacy project for Lisa.
“This will be open to absolutely every young person, regardless of race, colour or creed, so long as they can show the skills that would make them good ambassadors for Derry and for their own club,” he said.
The project also hopes to raise awareness of the organ donation scheme and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund, two organisations close to the Orsi family.
Mr Orsi continued: “Any family which, like ours, experiences the death of a loved one while they are abroad, will know how important it is to bring them home and the Kevin Bell Foundation has helped so many families.
“Colin Bell set up the foundation in memory of his son and he is a fantastic man quietly helping others facing this dreadful situation.
“After Lisa died, her organs were used to save the lives of so many others and that was her wish; she had signed the organ donation card so it was important to us that awareness of these two organisations would be part of the project.
“I have no doubt at all that Lisa would be fully behind the project, it would have been right up her street if she had still been with us.”