A fundraising hurling game between Cork and Kilkenny will be played next week to raise money for former Cork hurler and All Ireland winner Kieran O’Connor.
The 2010 All-Ireland medal winner Kieran is battling with a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma.
The match is in Páirc uí Rinn on Wednesday, March 27th at 7.30pm, with tickets priced at €10 (adults) and €5 (concessions).
Tickets will be available on the night and will also be sold online and at participating Centra/SuperValu stores.
Donations to the fund can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/friends-of-kieran.
BACKGROUND
On 2nd October 2017, after what started out as a throbbing pain in his right ankle, Kieran was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Ewing’s Sarcoma is 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 2018, 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.
THE UPDATE: 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 & 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.
THE GOAL: His friends, have decided to set up this Go Fund Me page for Kieran & Sinead, Isabelle (7), Ava (5) & James (1). Funds are needed 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.
