A 12-year-old schoolgirl is preparing to sit a Leaving Cert maths exam – for charity.

Cara Darmody from Tipperary is taking on the challenge to raise awareness of a nationwide lack of services for children with additional needs.

It comes off the back of a successful attempt at the Junior Cert maths exam this summer – scoring 97%.

The amazing Cara Darmody with @RyanTubridyShow after the @RTELateLateShow tonight. Thank you for everything you are doing for our community ? pic.twitter.com/sonelsFtEi

— AsIAm (@AsIAmIreland) November 12, 2022

Cara says her brothers are at the forefront of her mind when she’s studying:

“They are both severely autistic and they can’t really understand things. It’s really sad that my mammy and daddy have to face this too , it’s always really tough. There’s 18,000 other children in the country like this and waiting lists are a total disgrace.”