Ciarán Carr 5k family run/walk will help support brave Princess Emily
By Maurice Garvey
THE Ciarán Carr Foundation are hosting their annual 5K family fun run/walk in Corkagh Park on October 1, in aid of Emily Duffy, a young girl battling a rare form of cancer.
Emily’s parents Robert Duffy and Gillian Lee, originally from St Johns in Clondalkin, now living in Celbridge, have spent much of the last ten months trying to get the best care for their daughter.
In November 2016, Emily (4) was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a potentially life-threatening form of cancer, which affects one in every 100,000 children in Ireland.
In the aftermath of the diagnosis, friends of the family formed a GoFundMe page ‘A Princess Called Emily’ to try and raise €300,000 so that Emily can travel to the United States for DMFO clinical trials to significantly decrease the chances of a relapse.
Over the past nine months, Emily has been through rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, high dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant and radiotherapy.
She also needs blood transfusions and platelets regularly.
Robert and Gillian told The Echo in August, that they have been blown away by the kindness of people and Gemma and Philip Carr from the Ciarán Carr Foundation, for choosing to support Emily’s fund.
Gemma Carr from the Ciarán Carr Foundation said “Emily’s story has touched so many hearts since the fundraising effort began in 2016.”
Ms Carr said Ciarán’s fun run has brought members of the community together in recent years in aid of some great causes, and this year, they “want to turn Corkagh Park pink on October 1 for Princess Emily.”
The event takes place on Sunday, October 1, at 12 noon in Corkagh Park.
Adult entry is €10 including technical running top while Under 16s enter free. People can register on the day or through the Ciarán Carr Foundation Facebook page.
Anyone who would like to make a donation to Emily’s fund online can visit www.gofundme.com/a-princess-called-emily
