Fun-run organised to raise funds for life-saving treatment

A FUNDRAISER has been started to fund life-saving treatment for a girl with a rare form of cancer, with a local running club organising a ‘family fun run’ to raise money.

Bawnogue Running Club have organised a fundraising event for a nine-year-old girl, Aoibhe Lyons from Deansrath, Clondalkin, who has a rare form of cancer and has a tumour growing on the inside of her eye socket.

The tumour is in an area that touches the nerve around her eye and brain, therefore is inoperable because of how close it is to these nerves.

The community in Clondalkin are hoping to raise funds to help the family to afford life-saving treatment in Manchester over a three-month period as well as six months of chemotherapy afterwards.

The local running club held a ‘Family Fun Run’ that took place in Corkagh Park on Wednesday, July 7, encouraging all of the club members, as well as their families to participate and show their support in order to raise much needed funds for Aoibhe.

Speaking with The Echo, organiser of the event, Wayne Killeen said that they are just trying to do their part in helping the local family.

“We started the club up last October just for people to get out and it has grown a little bit. The little girl is from the area so when somebody said it to me about her, I said that we would do something as a club,” said Wayne.

“I put into the WhatsApp groups about doing it and everyone said, ‘yeah brilliant’. I said to bring the kids and the family along, so rather than just running around roads or up and down the canal we said we would do a walk or a run around the park.

“Any money that we raise will go straight to the family for Aoibhe’s treatment in Manchester. The more we can get – the better for her.”

The fundraiser has already surpassed the initial target of €1,000 so far, and donations will be open for the next few weeks on the GoFundMe Page.

If you wish to donate, you can search ‘Aoibhes Fun Run by BRC’ on GoFundMe.