IRELAND’S “TWO little Fighters” – conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf – slept blissfully in the arms of their mother Angie yesterday in spite of being surrounded by up to 1,000 bikers preparing to undertake a charity race on their behalf.
Hassan and Hussein, dressed in matching red outfits, were a picture of contentment as their mother Angie spoke to the media prior to a bike run organised by the Rebel Riders Motorcycle Club, which began shortly after 1pm yesterday at the Two Mile Inn pub in Midleton, Co Cork.
Angie Benhaffaf was visibly moved by the large turnout for the race from Midleton to Dungarvan. She expressed gratitude for the huge outpouring of generosity she has received from the public since her boys were born in December.
“It is overwhelming. It is lovely. It is amazing. It shows that everyone in the country is behind the boys, and that it is all very positive. It is so genuine. We are totally overwhelmed as a family. We are going to stay here for a little while, and then we are going to go home and feed everyone. Then we will pop back later on when the riders are coming back. It is brilliant.”
Angie and her Algerian-born husband Azzedine posed yesterday for photographs with tiny Hassan and Hussein, along with the couple’s other children, Malika (4) and Iman (2), and thanked the public for their support.
The bike run was organised by the twins’ uncle Jason Keating, a member of the Rebel Riders bikers’ club. The funds will go towards paying for surgery to separate the boys later this year in London. Mr Keating said he was thrilled with the turnout. He praised the numerous sporting associations in Ireland and the UK which donated jerseys and signed pictures in aid of the twins.
“Sir Alex Ferguson sent over signed shirts for the boys and we also got Liverpool signed shirts, Aston Villa, Stoke City, Ipswich; we have a Munster rugby jersey as well. They will all be auctioned on the 25th of this month.”
DJs from Cork’s Red FM led out the run, with the assistance of Declan O’Donovan from Two Wheel Training.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Laura McGonigle was a passenger on one of the bikes in support of the cause. Cllr McGonigle said she was honoured to take part.
“I am delighted to be part of this. I think a special tribute should go to the Rebel Riders as well who are always very good for raising funds for charity as well. In true Cork spirit, people did not leave us down. We expected 500 or 600 people to turn up and we have over a thousand bikers here today which makes it one of the largest ever road races in Ireland, and I think the two boys are a very worthy cause and I wish them the best of luck in a couple of weeks’ time in Great Ormond Street.”
The twins were born at University College Hospital in London in December. They are based at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.
Leading the surgical team for their separation later this year is Cork-born paediatric surgeon Edward Kiely. Great Ormond Street Hospital is the most experienced centre in Europe for the separation of conjoined twins, with the teams having dealt with 21 separations and nine inoperable cases to date.
Crucially, the two boys are understood not to share any major organs. Surgeons are planning for the separation once the pair get stronger.
The Little Fighters account is at the Permanent TSB’s Patrick Street branch in Cork: sort code 99-07-03, account no: 16556196.