The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Anthony says ‘thanks’ at Brains of Kerry final
HAVING recently completed nine months of aggressive antibiotic treatment in the USA, Anthony Morris popped around to the Killarney Avenue Hotel last Thursday (March 2) for the final of ‘The Brains of Kerry Table Quiz’ to show his gratitude to all who’ve supported him throughout his battle with Chronic Lyme Disease.
Anthony, a former Kerry senior footballer from Spa, admits the treatment ‘pushed me to the pin of my collar, but it was something I had to do.’
“I had to undergo the treatment to save my life. It was harrowing, and I had to call on every ounce of my football training to get me through it; I could hear my former manager Páidí Ó Sé screaming in my ear every day,” he told The Kerryman this week.
“The doctors were delighted with my progress by the end, and I couldn’t believe how good I was feeling! I’ve received loads of support during my illness, and while it took it out of me to visit Killarney the last night, I felt had to make it and say thanks for everything.”
Anthony’s treatment cost well over $120,000, and the recent table quiz – which featured a strict ban on smart phones – was just one of many fundraisers held to help the Spa man fight the destructive illness.
More than 35 teams took part in the county semi-finals on February 23, and 13 participated in Thursday’s final, which was MC’d by Brendan Fuller and featured a quirky musical round provided by singer-songwriter Tom Lucey.
The quiz – organised by Padraig Hartnett and Anthony’s brother Jim Morris – was won by a team from Currow, who scored 56 out of 60. Team members William Keane, Mike Gaynor, Paul Cullotty and John Flaherty, took home a generously donated bundle of prizes that included tickets to Ireland v Austria; Kerry v Dublin; The High Kings; and The Sawdoctors.
The organisers thank everyone who helped out with the quizzes over the last few weeks.
Anthony is currently in the middle of a course of oral antibiotics and supplements, but he hopes his medication will reduce over the months ahead. While the antibiotics have proven challenging, he has vowed to raise awareness of his illness and collect as much information as possible on Lyme Disease.
“I want to hear people’s stories about their own struggles with Lyme,” Anthony said. “If anyone wants to share their thoughts with me on the disease or treatment, positive or negative, they can contact me by messaging the anthonyvlyme@ gmail.com. I will collect as much information as possible.
“I will go public and raise awareness of this disease and the help that’s available. I had Lyme for years before my diagnosis and in that time I experienced tremendous pain. I want to help others avoid that.”
Lyme disease is passed on through tick bites. Early symptoms include a distinctive red ‘bull’s-eye’ rash, sometimes accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Ticks tend to wait on branches, long grass, and trees for targets, and particular vigilance is encouraged after visiting wooded, grassy places. If Lyme is treated with antibiotics quickly, the outlook for the condition is considered excellent.