Limerick Hurlers’ Business Helps Rebuild Local Boy’s Home

The television production DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland has arrived in Westbury, Limerick city, to undertake a major community-led home reconstruction for four-year-old Carter Purcell and his family.

Led by presenter Baz Ashmawy, the RTÉ program is coordinating a large-scale effort to modify the family home to accommodate the specific medical and physical requirements of the young boy.

Carter was born with a rare genetic condition that has resulted in significant developmental uncertainties. During the first two years of his life, he required highly specialized medical care and spent a considerable amount of time in and out of hospitals.

Medical and Accessibility Challenges

The project addresses critical accessibility issues within the family home. Carter is entirely dependent on his parents, Alex and Nikita, for all aspects of his care. He is non-verbal and unable to walk or sit independently.

His medical needs include being fed via a tube directly into his stomach and the use of a CPAP machine at night to maintain safe oxygen levels.

The current layout of the residence presents daily physical obstacles for the family. Because all bedrooms are located upstairs, Carter must be carried multiple times a day between the living area, the bathroom, and his bedroom.

the family requires more space to accommodate ongoing physiotherapy and the various pieces of medical equipment necessary for Carter’s care.

Community and Athlete Involvement

The reconstruction effort has drawn significant local support, with over 100 volunteers banding together to assist in the build. This community mobilisation was a central part of the rally the troops approach led by Baz Ashmawy.

Contributing to the effort is a business owned by Limerick hurlers, known as the Bunda Brothers, who provided food to support the volunteers working on the project.

The family consists of Carter, his parents, and his older brother, AJ. Alex serves as Carter’s full-time carer, while Nikita works full-time to support the household.

The community-led build was scheduled to take place in February 2026, following the initial announcement of the project on January 29, 2026.