Gaels across County Derry have united to support a fundraising campaign which was launched to help a man who is battling a brain tumour and has been given three months to live.
Kevin Carey was told by doctors that his only chance of beating the aggressive illness is to undergo Immunotherapy treatment at UCLH, London.
The pioneering treatment is only available privately and costs £205,000.
This has prompted friends and family of 35 year-old Kevin to set up a gofundme page.
Almost £60,000 has been raised since the page was launched yesterday (Wednesday).
Many GAA clubs across County Derry and further afield have backed the fundraiser.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has also shown his support to the campaign.
Kevin, a civil engineer from Portglenone, only got married four years ago.
His devoted wife Natasha said their world was ‘turned upside down’ in July last year when the ex-GAA player was diagnosed with the brain tumour.
She said; “Out of the blue, Kevin took a number of seizures. Kevin was rushed to A&E and misdiagnosed with sudden onset epilepsy. To our devastation, after arranging our own MRI scan, Glioblastoma (GBM); an aggressive grade 4, terminal cancerous brain tumour was diagnosed.
“Gruelling treatment began at The Royal Victoria Hospital and Belfast City Hospital, involving major brain surgery, six weeks of radio-chemotherapy followed by six months of full strength chemotherapy, to blast the last remaining cancer cells left. Kevin did everything asked of him, followed all doctors' instructions, no matter how difficult, remaining positive and determined throughout. To our dismay, a year to the day this all began, on the 15th July 2016, we learnt that the chemo and radiotherapy treatment hadn't worked.”
On July 26, Kevin was given the devastating news that he had a three month life expectancy.
“Kevin had to make a rapid decision to choose whether or not to undergo risky, specialist neurosurgery, away from home, in London, to try again to remove the bulk of the tumour. Kevin is the bravest, most fearless man I know, and replied to the three month life expectancy news with ‘I won't be beaten, I want to fight’.”
Natasha said they are putting all their personal finances into funding the Immunotherapy treatment, plus travelling back and forth to London, but they can't meet it alone.
“I want Kevin to know he is not alone in this fight for his life. Please help Kevin fight this brain tumour in any way you can. We really need your help. You can help by donating, and/or sharing his story, fundraising on his behalf, or asking friends, family or colleagues about fundraising advice or grants Kevin may be able to receive,” appealed Natasha.
To donate click here
Meanwhile, Casements GAC, Portglenone are hosting a big breakfast fundraiser this Sunday morning from 9am to 12.30pm in The Wild Duck.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 07825 711978. Or you can email john.gill@derrynews.net at any time.