Brothers bid to buy home after losing parents to cancer
Community moves to support grieving youngsters
A COMMUNITY has rallied around four young brothers who want to buy their family home after both parents died of cancer within months of each other.
Patrick Clifford, 21, and siblings Jack, 14, Andrew, eight and five-year-old Conor recently lost mum Elaine and dad Padraig.
The latter was 46 when he passed away in January, five months after Elaine also succumbed to the illness, just 24 hours before her 41st birthday.
Now the people of Milltown in Co Kerry have stepped in to help the boys purchase their rented home and “secure their future”.
Their Gofundme campaign has raised almost €36,000 out of its €80,000 goal.
The appeal organisers posted online: “This heartbreaking story has touched many people near and far, it has left the community of Milltown in disbelief that this could happen to one family in such a short space of time.
“In May 2021 the boys’ mum, Elaine, was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and after a short time and a big fight she lost her battle to cancer in August.
“Padraig found it very difficult to come to terms with the loss of his soulmate, his amazing wife and mother to their four beautiful boys.
“He tried to get on with life as best he could with the great help of family and friends. But little did Padraig know, when he felt unwell in December 2021, that he too had an aggressive cancer.
“He was admitted to University Hospital Kerry in January this year and, after being diagnosed, lost his battle eight days later.
“The boys now reside in the rented family home in Milltown.
“This fundraiser is being set up to raise enough money to allow them to purchase it and secure their future.
“Any donations to help the Clifford boys reach their goal of owning their own home would be very much appreciated.”
The boys now reside in the rented family home
CAMPAIGN ORGANISERS ON PLIGHT OF THE BOYS