The public are being encouraged to lend their support to former Aghada GAA & Cork senior footballer, Kieran O’Connor (39) to help fund living and medical expenses, as he looks to beat Ewing’s Sarcoma Cancer.
A fundraising hurling game between Cork and Kilkenny will be played in Páirc uí Rinn this Wednesday, March 27 at 7.30pm, with tickets priced at €10 (adults) and €5 (U16s).
Tickets will be available on the night and are also on sale online http://corkgaa.tickets.ie/ and at participating Centra/SuperValu stores.
The game will be preceded by the county senior hurling championship clash involving UCC and CIT at 5.30pm, and we encourage patrons to come in early to watch both games. Entertainment will be provided by the Barrack Street Band.
DIFFICULT JOURNEY
What started out as a throbbing pain in his right ankle, saw Kieran diagnosed in October 2017 with Ewing’s Sarcoma – a rare form of bone cancer and even rarer in adults.
Kieran & his wife Sinead were also due their 3rd baby at the time of diagnosis, baby James was born 3 weeks later and Kieran began his treatment within days.
Kieran went through aggressive chemotherapy for 3-4 months to shrink the tumour enough so that the surgeons could proceed with his operation.
On 14th February 2018, the surgeon operated on the tumour, shaved off 110mm of bone and attached ligament as part of the repair.
The operation went well, but the healing process was long and painful. Intensive Chemotherapy resumed after a month and went on until the end of July 2018.
By November that year, Kieran having being out of work since October 2017, was feeling well. All the results were positive and he was planning on going back to work in December 2018.
He took part in our “Local Bulls” Fundraiser with his young son James! Confirming the positive mental attitude and strength of Kieran, they dressed down for a special 2019 calendar!
A bit of fun to raise awareness of mental health issues and cancer and to raise funds for Pieta House and the Mercy Hospital.
However, over the last few months, Kieran was suffering from persistent pains in his leg and the wound was not healing fully.
In January 2019 he had to endure another serious operation and his lower leg was amputated. While trying to recover from the amputation, he started experiencing bad back pains, and last week we were all devastated to find out that his cancer had spread.
Kieran is a fighter, he is back on chemo treatment this week battling Ewing’s Sarcoma for the third time in 18 months.
GO FUND ME PAGE
A Go Fund Me page, to help Kieran with all aspects on further treatment and care, as well as potential prosthetic costs following his lower leg amputation and to help support Sinead and their 3 young children, has been set up.
Donations to the fund can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/friends-of-kieran
Bank Account: AIB Midleton
Account title: Kieran O’Connor Fund
IBAN: IE69AIBK93412713956683
BIC: AIBKIE2D
SORT CODE: 934127
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 13956683
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