‘Brilliant’ support helps raise £110k for Siobhan

‘Brilliant’ support helps raise £110k for Siobhan

17 October 2018

THE appeal to raise money for cancer sufferer Siobhan McCann’s treatment received a massive £51,427 boost at the weekend.

Friends of the 26-year-old Clanvaraghan woman have now raised more than £110,000 in six weeks to fund the life-prolonging treatment.

Siobhan, a former Down senior ladies’ Gaelic footballer, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in April.

Three months later she was told the cancer had spread to her liver and surgery was no longer an option.

With Siobhan’s blessing, friends Cormac McMullan, Alan Henderson and Bria Cunningham  launched the Help Beat Siobhan’s Toughest Opponent appeal to pay for the drug Bevacizumab (Avastin) to keep her well until surgery may be an option again.

A ladies’ sevens Gaelic football competition was held at Siobhan’s home club,  St John’s GAC, Drumnaquoile, and at Castlewellan GAC on Saturday, along with a coffee morning and a dance and charity raffle at St John’s.

Twenty-three clubs turned out to play in the competition and helped generate the huge sum.

Siobhan turned up to watch some of the action and to support all those who are helping her.

Cormac told the Recorder that he was stunned with the amount of money raised.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting the sort of money,” he said.  “When I was lying in my bed listening to the rain at 6am, I thought it was going to be a disaster.

“But the response we got was unbelievable, from people who looked after and fed the players, who donated baked goods to the coffee morning to the car-parking stewards who stood out in the rain all day, people who donated prizes and people who paid big money for some of the prizes.

“It was just brilliant to see the support. Hopefully it shows that Siobhan means a lot to a lot of people.”

However, he stressed that the initial target of £100,000 may fall short of what is actually required.

“Our target was a random figure and as more research is being undertaken by Siobhan’s family, we think we will have to keep going,” explained Cormac.

“That drug is only a life-lengthening drug so now we will have to keep on looking into a drug to hopefully cure the cancer,” added Cormac.

A further fundraiser in aid of Siobhan’s appeal is the Castlewellan Truck Show on Saturday, November 3.

To donate to the appeal, visit www.gofundme.com/help-beat-siobhans-toughestopponent.