Late Late Toy Show star Adam King has raised over €250,000 for Temple Street Hospital in Dublin and Cork University Maternity Hospital.
The six-year-old captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world when he showed Ryan Tubridy his "virtual hug" during last year's festive special.
Adam was born with a rare condition that causes stunted growth and brittle bones.
He has attended Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin since he was a baby.
The brave youngster raised €266,830.52 through sales of his virtual hug card, which were printed in the lead up to Valentine’s Day by Garlanna Greeting Cards and distributed by Musgraves via Centra and Supervalu stores nationwide.
The funds will be split between the two hospitals, with CUMH using the donation to support its Neonatal Sanctum appeal and the building of a parents’ room on its Wilton campus.
Temple Street will use its share of the funds to support the Rare Paediatric Bone Disorders Clinic Adam still attends, and the CHI Arts in Health programme.
Of the 8,000 babies born in CUMH every year, 1,300 require admission to a specialised neonatal unit.
Claire Concannon, Development and Marketing Manager at CUH Charity, explained: "The Neonatal Sanctum will [provide] a quiet, dignified space, away from a clinical environment, is so important for families."
Work is due to begin next year, and is expected to cost €900,000, of which €412,000 has been raised so far.
