Friends battle rare form of cancer

TWO young pals who were diagnosed with a rare form of cancer just weeks apart are set to have a charity football match played in their honour to raise much needed funds in aid of the families.

Caiden Molloy (6) and his close family friend Keilan O’Shea (9) have been battling a form of cancer known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) over the past few months.

ALL is described as a fast-growing form of cancer of the blood which affects lymphocyte white blood cells. Over 60 people are diagnosed with ALL in Ireland every year.

The two lads are no strangers to Richmond Park, where they would watch their beloved St Patrick’s Athletic and are each massive sports fans.

Caiden is a member of the Ballyfermot United academy and the club have organised a special charity match to raise funds to help both families care for the young boys.

The game itself will see a Ballyfermot Utd XI pitted up against an ex-League of Ireland All-Star XI which is set to be managed by current St Pat’s captain, Ian Bermingham.

“They were diagnosed just before Christmas and it really hit all of our hearts,” Noel Turner, coach in Ballyfermot United and organiser of the event, told The Echo.

“We have two kids here, six and nine, after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

“We all have kids that age and we can’t even imagine what they’re going through.

“I had tears in my eyes reading their story and we just knew that, as a club, we needed to do something.

“We want to make these kids feel like absolute rockstars on Saturday.

“We have a saying here and it’s ‘we are Ballyer’ and the amount of support that we have had for this event has been nothing short of amazing. It has really just brought it all home.”

Set to feature in the game is Tallaght native Jason Byrne, current Shamrock Rovers coach Glenn Cronin, a spathe of former Hoops players including Brian Morrisroe, Mark O’Neill and Marc Kenny.

Players such as former Lucan United player Mark Rutherford, Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien, Owen Heary and Anthony ‘Bisto’ Flood are among several others on the teamsheet lining out for the cause.

Caiden, who is a pupil in Mary Queen of Angels, has one sister, named Karlie Jayne, and has been described as “a very kind and caring boy”.

Despite the last two months of sickness and time in hospital, Caiden has retained his caring nature and dazzling strong smile and is eager to get back to his routine as he progresses through his lengthy treatment plan.

Keilan is in Fourth Class in Mary Queen of Angels and has two brothers, Alex and Joshua.

Described as a “very outgoing” and “funny” young lad with lots of friends, Keilan remains “so positive and can’t wait to get back to school and sport”.

The Ballyfermot XI and ex-League of Ireland All-Star XI charity game in aid of Caiden and Keilan’s families will kick-off at 2pm at the Coldcut Pitch on Prison Road in Ballyfermot this Saturday, February 12.

Admission is €5 per person, with all proceeds raised on the day going directly to the family’s of Caiden and Keilan.

To donate online, visit: www.gofund.me/04cebb00