Firefighter’s young son is inspiration behind charity drive for rare cancer
By Mary Dennehy
A TALLAGHT three-year-old was the inspiration behind a charity drive in The Square shopping centre last Saturday for children’s cancer charity, Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.
Last November, little Micheal Tracey was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, a tumour which attacks muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Micheal’s dad Brian, a firefighter based at Nutgrove Fire Station, told The Echo that the tumour started out as a small lump on Micheal’s cheek.
“Originally, the doctors thought it was just a gland but after it grew rapidly within the space of two weeks, we were referred to the children’s hospital at Crumlin,” Brian said.
“After a number of scans and a biopsy, we were told that Micheal had a very rare tumour called rhabdomyosarcoma.”
Micheal has just finished three rounds of chemotherapy and on February 9 will be undergoing a serious of scans to see how the tumour has reacted to treatment, with hopes high that the Tallaght toddler will travel to Brussels for specialised treatment.
Brian said: “Micheal’s oncologist here in Crumlin is part of a Europe-wide team of oncologist paediatrics that specialise in a treatment called Brachy which targets this rare form of cancer,” Brian said.
“The treatment and transport of one parent and Micheal is covered, we don’t have to pay for that – so, every penny raised on Saturday in The Square will go to Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.”
Brian added: “Aoibheann’s Pink Tie is an amazing lifeline to families with sick children.
“They provide so much support and look after simple things like bringing food into the hospital, to paying a bill. They take the burden off families so they can focus on their child.
“They even have emergency packs on St John’s Ward in Crumlin [the cancer ward] with pyjamas, toothbrushes and other bits and bobs for children who are admitted to hospital unexpectedly.
“They take the worry away for parents and provide care that nobody will ever understand unless they have to walk down the corridor of St John’s Ward.”
Brian’s colleagues in Nutgrove Fire Station, who are serial fundraisers, staged a bucket collection in aid of Aoibheann’s Pink Tie in The Square, Tallaght, with every penny going to the children’s cancer charity.
The Rathfarnham station also drafted in help from their colleagues in Tallaght, Dolphin’s Barn, Dun Laoghaire, Donnybrook and Tara Street – with a few superheroes also dropping in on the day and a fire-truck also on show.
For further information on the work of Aoibheann’s Pink Tie visit www.aoibheannspinktie.ie
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