Laois dad to abseil at Croke Park for children with cancer
Abbeyleix man Steven Reilly (left) will do the Croke Park abseil with teaching colleagues and friends John Sheanon and Brendan Timmons
AN Abbeyleix man whose little son was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of two will abseil from the roof of Croke Park this weekend, in aid of Childhood Cancer Ireland (CCI).
Steven Reilly, who hurls with Abbeyleix GAA, will plunge 44 metres from the top of the national stadium this Saturday 28 September, in a bid to raise vital funds for an organisation that has helped give his son Jude and many other children a new lease of life.
When Jude was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in June last year, it was a tremendous shock for Steven and his wife Laura, who were expecting their second child.
It was the beginning of a very long and challenging journey for the family, as Jude underwent ongoing aggressive treatment.
Now aged three, Jude is beginning to return to a normal life at home with his nine-month-old sister Florence and is in the maintenance phase of cancer treatment, with about ten more months of treatment ahead.
The family will never forget the wonderful care he received on St John’s Ward at the Children's Health Ireland hospital in Crumlin and the amazing support from CCI.
As he prepares for the Croke Park challenge, Steven said: “September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. I want to help return the favour by fundraising, so that Childhood Cancer Ireland can continue to support children and families battling cancer.”
A primary school teacher at Divine Word NS in Rathfarnham, Dublin, Steven will be joined in the abseil by two of his friends and colleagues at the school, principal John Sheanon and teacher Brendan Timmons, who have generously stepped forward to help the invaluable cause.
Jude with his mum Laura as he begins to return to a normal life at home
Their venture is part of the ‘Croke Park Abseil for Childhood Cancer Ireland’, which will see teams from all over the country leap from the roof of the third highest stadium in Europe in aid of the charity.
Steven and Laura said on the fundraising page: ‘Jude is almost 15 months into treatment and thankfully it is going well. Childhood Cancer Ireland provides us with a lot of support through peer mentoring, play therapy and music therapy on the ward. We are grateful for the endless opportunities that they have given us.
Jude pictured with his baby sister Florence
People can see footage of the abseil this Saturday @childhoodcancerire on Instagram.
