A campaign to raise funds for a 10-year-old’s cancer treatment has smashed its target of €20,000.
Organiser Edel Moore launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe for the family of 10-year-old Bridget Hynes earlier this month after she was diagnosed with bone cancer. It has raised almost €25,000 to date.
Edel explains on the GoFundMe website that Bridget was first informed there was a growth in her leg after suffering a kayaking injury that required medical care.
Read More: Fundraiser for Irish toddler left with life-changing injuries after car accident
“The doctor was contacted who sent her to the Accident and Emergency department for a diagnostic X-ray to rule out a break. The x-ray found an anomaly above her knee. At that moment, her life and the life of her family changed forever,” Edel wrote.
Bridget is an avid GAA and soccer player who has enjoyed an active childhood. Her diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, has been immensely difficult for both her and her parents.
Osteosarcoma is a cancer most likely to develop in children or adolescents. Some risk factors for the condition include teenage growth spurts, being tall for a specific age and radiotherapy treatment for a previously diagnosed type of cancer.
The funds raised will assist Bridget and her parents, Coleen and Paraic, on her patient journey in Children’s Hospital Crumlin.
“The current future holds many journeys up to Crumlin for the family, many overnight stays. Funds raised would go solely to daily living expenses and monthly bills in this unexpected time of need,” Edel explains.
Bridget also has two brothers, 12-year-old Michael and eight-year-old James. Her parents have taken time off work to focus on caring for all three children during this challenging and unanticipated time.
Bridget has already had her first session of chemotherapy, which her parents said she faced with resilience and a smile. Chemotherapy is to be followed by several surgeries which will remove the affected area of her leg. It is hoped that she will be in remission by this time next year.
Edel penned a heartfelt message of thanks on the page after donations hit the halfway mark of the target.
“Thank you all so much for each and every donation, it means so much! Colleen and Paraic are just so overwhelmed at the response and support. It's true what they say, it takes a village to raise a child and they definitely struck gold with the village of support that has been received,” the message read.
To visit the Hynes’ family GoFundMePage, click here.
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