KNOCK-OUT SUCCESS!
FINAL NIALL STEMS FOR HOPE EVENT COMPLETES THE FUNDRAISING TO SEND NIALL BEDFORD TO RUSSIA FOR HELP
IT took less than six months, but the family, friends and local community have raised the funds needed for Niall Bedford to get pioneering treatment in Russia.
The last big event on the Niall Stems for Hope campaign was the recent white-collar boxing event Niall’s Final Knockout in the TLT, which was a huge success, and organiser Nicola Bedford said they are all thrilled to have reached their goal of raising €60,000.
“It has been one amazing journey and it is the first step towards Niall’s treatment. He jets off to Russia on the 18th of January, this is something that has been made possible by all of you,” she said. “This town has gone to tremendous efforts to help our family and we are eternally grateful.”
The entire committee - Nicola, Declan Browning, Padraig McCabe, Jade Connor, Molly Duff and Katie Bedford – all want to thank Mark O’Toole and St. Cianan’s Boxing Club for all the hard work and support they put in over the last few weeks.
“To the fighters, the event just could not have happened without you. Your dedication is appreciated immensely. You are all winners in our eyes,” said Nicola, who is sister-in-law to Niall. “To the referee and the judges on the night, you were amazing and thank you dearly.”
30 hardy souls took to the ring on November 30th to help raise funds for Niall.
The 40-year-old father of three has Multiple Sclerosis, and after trialing several drugs since his diagnosis in 2012, will be receiving HSCT (Hematopietic Stem Cell Transplantation) with Dr. Fedorenko, a Specialist Haematologist in Russia.
“HSCT gives a 90-95% success rate of halting disease progression in patients with RRMS and has shown to reverse lesion activity associated in patients with MS,” explains Nicola.
“This treatment will be very intense, and Niall will have to spend between 30-40 days in hospital in Russia to undergo a whole cycle of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. During this time, he will also receive 3-5 days of invasive chemotherapy where he will remain in isolation until completed”.
The committee also want to thank their photographer on the night, Neil at Feckin Fotos, Jenny Fagan and the TLT for their continued support, Mo O’Callaghan and Karen Coyle who have helped with previous fundraisers and this one also, to all the business that sponsored fighters, dancers, fundraisers over the last number of months, and all the donations, the prizes and the support.
“Finally, we want to thank the public, the people of Drogheda,” she adds.
“This town really does have the power to do good. It is thanks to you that tickets were sold, donations were given, and events were hosted. Your support has been fantastic. It is truly overwhelming the support that has been given.”
While this chapter of fundraising closes, it opens a whole new one - to the rest of Niall and the Bedford’s lives.
“We cannot wait to update you in January and the months after on Niall’s progress.
“We will always be eternally grateful for all the support.”