Mary Philbin is currently in America for treatment.

Fundraising drive for former Banagher student

It's said your school days are the best days of your life, but for former Banagher student Mary Philbin it's more a case of school friends being the best friends of your life and one of those friends has organised a benefit table quiz for Mary in Simon Lyon's in Banagher tomorrow (Saturday). Galway native Mary met Patricia Harrington from Belmont when she entered La Sainte Union secondary school in Banagher as a boarding student. The two became firm friends and went on to live together in 2004 when they both chose third level courses in Cork colleges. That same year Mary said goodbye to her housemate and her college course, as she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Though she's since beaten the cancer, Mary's left with a plethora of severely challenging side effects that make for a very poor quality of life. She's currently in America getting treatment and with no certainty of how her medical bills there will be paid her friend Patricia has set up a fundraising effort to help. A fundraising table quiz will take place in Simon Lyon's in Banagher on Saturday, February 2, at 8.30pm, and Patricia says organising it is easy compared to what her friend has been through. "For the last seven years Mary has been so positive," she said. "I don't think I could have gone through what she has." At the age of 19 Mary's problems surfaced and what appeared to be a throat infection turned out to be much more. Constantly hungry and tired with a nagging pain in her teeth and one side of her face, Mary eventually underwent a CT scan. That scan revealed a rare type of cancer called nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which affects the throat and nose. Radiation treatment successfully treated Mary's cancer, but it also destroyed her saliva glands and led to scar tissue forming in her throat. Surgeons in Ireland have repeatedly widened Mary's throat, but since the middle of 2011 Mary has been restricted to a liquid diet because of the condition. She also has a condition like lockjaw and breathes with difficultly. In addition last July she learned liquid was seeping into her lungs. Now 26, Mary's never-give-up attitude led her to a surgeon in America who offered hope. She and her mother Eileen travelled to America by boat in December, as Mary's conditions leave her unable to fly. Since then Mary has had two operations - one before Christmas and one last week - under a North Carolina surgeon. "So far doctors are pleased with the surgery but they've said she might need further surgery down the line," Patricia said. Patricia knows times are hard and pockets often empty, but she's hoping to harness the goodwill of Mary's former school mates and others in the locality who would like to give to the worthwhile cause. Anyone who would like to support the cause can go along to the table quiz on February 2 where a table of four will cost €20, or alternatively donate directly to Bank of Ireland Manorhamilton account number 18987405, sort code 90-54-08. Anyone willing to donate a spot prize for the February 2 table quiz can do so by contacting Patricia on 085 1327329. News of the fundraising campaign can also be followed on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mary.philbinfund.