A Derry family devastated by the impact of cancer has organised a fundraising event for a cancer unit in the city.
The Fergusons have lost two members to the disease while a third is currently undergoing treatment.
Niall Ferguson died in 2000, his mother, Eilish then died a number of years later after battling breast cancer and his father, Joe, is currently undergoing treatment for prostrate cancer.
John Doherty, sister to Eilish and uncle to Niall, told the Derry News about the family’s commitment to cancer charities and treatment units since their deaths.
The Sperrin Unit at Altnagelvin, where Joe is currently receiving medical care, has been chosen as the beneficiary on this occasion.
Niall was diagnosed with Leukemia on May 26, 1998, when he was just five years old, and he passed away two years later on May 8, 2000, at the age of seven.
He was a pupil at St. Oliver Plunkett Primary School in Strathfoyle, whose staff were a great support to Niall during his time there, and his family when he sadly passed away.
They presented the family, including Niall’s brother Sean, with a framed poem, topped with a photo of Niall, which was signed by all of his classmates.
The school has also held fundraising events, with the proceeds going to cancer charities.
Niall loved playing football and was a big Liverpool fan.
His father, Joe, is the uncle of Northern Ireland international Shane Ferguson.
Charlie Lansborough was a hero of his, and he played “My Forever Friend” on a loop during trips to the Royal Victoria Children’s Hospital in Belfast.
It is a song that would be played at his funeral along with the Liverpool anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, which proved very emotional for everyone.
Before he passed away a friend of the family organised for Niall to meet Charlie Lansborough when he played in the Millenium Forum, which he loved.
Niall’s uncle, John Doherty, explained what his nephew was like as a child and the time leading up to his cancer diagnosis.
John said: “It all started when he was at school one day. He came home and his legs and everything were sore, and he was a while bad colour.
“He was taken to the doctors and they thought it was either a virus or glandular fever and he was put on medication.
“After that he was getting no better and the secretary of the school phoned his mammy one day to say he wasn’t looking well at all. He was taken a couple of times to the doctors and they carried out a lot of tests.
“Then finally his mammy took him one day, it was the 26th May 1998, the doctor took blood tests and the next day he was diagnosed with leukemia.”
He battled on for two years and attended the Royal Victoria Hospital for sick children where he received all of his treatment.
His mother and father were with him every step of the way as they drove him to Belfast for treatment on a regular basis.
“He was a wee fighter you know,” John said. “For someone so young, he never complained and he had to endure extensive treatment, the likes of which an adult would have struggled to cope with.
“He had to get injections in his legs, lumber punctures done, he lost his hair twice and he had to take a lot of tablets.
He added: “But you also had a laugh with him too. On a Saturday and Sunday morning he had about 14 tablets to take. We changed our dining room into his playroom and he used to play the Playstation with one hand and take the tablets with the other.
“Nothing bothered him, but I think it was because he was so young.”
In 2006 Niall’s mother Eilish was told she had breast cancer which she battled for five years and got the all-clear in February 2011.
In April of the same year she was given the dreadful news the cancer had spread to her lungs and was inoperable.
On April 13, the day of her 40th wedding anniversary, she was given three months to live and exactly three months from that date she died, on July 13 2011.
But John explained that Eilish told him she had died the day that Niall passed away, as she had devoted her life to him.
In December 2011, a curve in the spine of Joe Ferguson was diagnosed as prostrate cancer.
Mr Ferguson continues to undergo treatment which is why the family has decided to donate money to the Sperrin Unit - which provides chemotherapy treatment at Altnagelvin.
Since Niall’s death the entire family has took it upon themselves to raise money in aid of cancer charities, with a lot of money also donated to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
His "granny Doherty" who sadly witnessed her grandson and daughter go before her, also donated £500 to children’s cancer charity Clicsargent.
A family-fortunes themed fundraising event has been organised tomorrow at the DuPont club in memory of Niall.
John said he can take no credit for the event which has been organised by Jimmy B’s, who he commended for ‘doing a great job’.
It is a project set up in tribute to Derry man James Bradley who died from testicular cancer in 2010.
Jimmy B’s has the motto "Stay Strong, Fight On" and it aims to raise awareness about men’s cancer.
The Sperrin Unit will be the beneficiary on this occasion in memory of Niall.
Anyone who wants to donate can go along to the event at the DuPont club at 9.30pm as there will be some tickets available on the door.
Photo shows Niall Ferguson with parents Eilish and Joe and cousins Michael and Kevin Duddy.
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