On Thursday the 12th of January 2017, our then 8 year old son Fionn was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma which is a form of cancer which attacks the lymphatic system. Fionn completed 18 weeks of chemotherapy treatment in St John's ward in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Dublin.  Thankfully he has recovered very well from this traumatic experience. He returned to school, is playing sport again and doing all the fun things that young boys should be doing.

During Fionn's illness he got amazing support from the Childhood Cancer Foundation. He was part of the beads of courage programme whereby for every scan/chemo/needle etc he had he got a bead. When we run the Dublin Marathon we each will be carrying two beads on our runners. After the marathon we will keep one bead and the other bead will be given to a child undergoing treatment in St Johns ward as a sign that we ran for them.

 In October 2018, Fionn was granted his wish by Make-a-Wish Ireland, a charity that grants wishes to children living with a life threatening illness. During his treatment especially on the difficult dark days Fionn was distracted by discussing what his wish might be once he finished treatment. His wish came true when he came home from school one day and he had his very own artists den in the garden. It was a very emotional day for him.

 During Fionn's treatment we met children suffering from cancer and who got support from the Gavin Glynn Foundation which provides practical and financial support to children who have to travel overseas for their cancer treatment.  

In an attempt to raise funds for these 3 amazing charities, myself and my wife Lisa along with my brother Fran, sister in law Ann and a group of friends Georgina Wall, Nuria Tasies and Peter Breen we are going to run the Dublin City Marathon on 27th October 2019.  We are not serious runners but the amazing physical and mental strength that Fionn and the children of St Johns Cancer Ward in Crumlin showed along with our desire to help raise funds for 3 fabulous charities was the inspiration for us to run the marathon.        We have been training 4 times a week since July.

Each year, roughly 200 children are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland and many endure years of treatment.  A visit to St Johns Ward is a truly eye opening and scary experience where you see so many very sick children and it was through the wonderful services provided by many charities that make the days a bit easier for children and their family. 

Sadly each of us will be touched by cancer whether it be a child, a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a friend or somebody who knows somebody. In our short time in St John's we are have got to know children who have sadly since gained their angel wings.  We hope you can dig deep and support these three great charities who provide much needed support for children with cancer and their families. From all of us, thank you very much for your generosity and support.        #kidsgetcancertoo    #nevergiveup