Ballycumber family 'overwhelmed' by €70k raised for local man battling rare cancer

A local family has said they are "overwhelmed" and "blown away" by the huge support received for their fundraiser for an Offaly man which surpassed its original target of €20,000 to reach over €70k.

The fundraiser in aid of Ballycumber resident Pat Kelly who is battling a rare form of cancer has raised an incredible sum of €71,170.

Pat's cousin and one of the members of the organising committee for the Pat Kelly Benefit Fund, Sinéad Lynam, said that Pat was “overwhelmed” by the support received and that he couldn't thank people enough for supporting him and his family. They decided to increase the original target set of €20,000 following the huge support they received. Sinéad added that Pat and his wife Sandra were very grateful to everyone for their support.

They are blown away by the amount raised and it will be a huge help to them.”The cheque for over €70,000 was presented to Pat and his family in Flynns Pub, Ballycumber on Saturday, March 16. The funds raised came from online donations via iDonate, offline donations and the Benefit Night held last month in Ballycumber Community Centre.

Sinéad said: “The committee are so thankful to everyone who kindly donated and to everyone who helped out on the night itself. The funds raised really is testament to the person Pat is.”The Benefit Fund is now closed and therefore no longer seeking donations to the cause as it has surpassed its target of €40,000.

Pat (47) was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer whilst attending the hospital in Tullamore after complaining of a pain in his foot in 2019. He was referred to St Vincent's Hospital and he underwent chemotherapy and subsequently had surgery to remove half of his foot. This was followed by more chemotherapy and radium. Pat then attended Cappagh Hospital in Dublin to have a special shoe fitted to support his balance.In 2021, the cancer reoccurred, this time in Pat's lungs. Once again, he had to undergo chemotherapy sessions and six and a half weeks of radium in St James Hospital, Dublin.

Despite a small respite, in 2023, the cancer came back again in his lungs and also on his side. During this time, he was being monitored closely, and in August, he became very ill and was rushed to Tullamore hospital and transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he was diagnosed with two brain tumours.The Pullough native had to have brain surgery twice in the space of one week and had both tumours removed. Since then, Pat has had six more cycles of chemotherapy and two and a half weeks of radium in St James. As Pat is unlikely to return to work for the foreseeable future, his family and friends decided to set up the fundraiser to help Pat and his family through this difficult time and the months ahead.

The Kelly family are no strangers to cancer as Pat's wife Sandra was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013 and had to have three-quarters of her colon removed. In 2017, she was diagnosed with the BACCA-2 gene, which resulted in her having a double mastectomy, a hysterectomy, and reconstruction. Fortunately, Sandra recovered and is doing well.

Throughout all of this, Pat and his family remain upbeat and strong but all of this has taken its toll on Pat and his family, both emotionally and financially.

Pat and Sandra have two teenage children, Cillian and Megan and he is the son of Fossy Kelly and the late Mary Jo Lynam.