Giving Fiachra a fighting chance
OVER €63,000 has been raised for Ransboro man Fiachra Woods to help cover ongoing costs for treatment of his rare and inherited condition overseas.
THE outpouring of generosity in these testing times has been described as ‘overwhelming’ by his family.
The father of two, who is married to Therese, is battling the neurological degenerative disease, Hereditary Diffuse Leukoencephalopathy with Spheroids since being diagnosed in 2016. Fiachra’s mother sadly passed away from the disease.
Recently Fiachra’s condition has rapidly deteriorated. He is experiencing difficulty walking and his speech is becoming affected.
Fiachra’s friends and family have come together to raise some much-needed funds to help cover ongoing costs of specialist treatment in Germany.
Speaking to The Sligo Champion, his sister in-law Claire O’Sullivan Cashman said the family are ‘overwhelmed’ with the phenomenal reaction to their GoFundMe Campaign ‘Fighting4Fiachra, which was set up little over one week ago.
On a fundraising committee with Carole Brenan, Iain Howard, Paul Scanlon, Clive Kivlehan and Alan Molloy with the full support of Ransboro Development Association and the wider Ransboro/ Strandhill Community, Claire and the group had a number of fundraisers planned.
The fundraisers had to be postponed due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
“We’re overwhelmed and delighted with the campaign...
“Everyone is just rallying and I can’t do anything really while they’re in Germany so we decided to set this up,” Claire explained. Fiachra and wife Therese, sister of Claire, flew to Germany on Monday of last week for specialist investigative tests ahead of possible treatment.
“They’re kind of in limbo at the moment not knowing how long they could be out there for and with borders being shut it’s just hard to know. “My parents are looking after Fiachra and Therese’s children, Ferdia (5) and Willow (4),” said Claire, who is currently doing all she can as a nurse at Sligo University hospital amid the escalating Covid-19 pandemic.
Fiachra, a well-known figure across Sligo having run McGarrigle’s Bar and Coolera House, is now facing the biggest challenge of his life as he is deteriorating rapidly, experiencing difficulty walking and issues with his speech.
The disease results in an inability to walk, talk and eventually progresses to end stage dementia requiring full nursing care. This progression is over a short number of years.
It is hoped the treatment in Liepzig could stop the further progression of the awful disease. This care will involve months of treatment and isolation in a hospital.
“They could be over there a year. It’s a tough time with everything going on, everyone is rallying,” said Claire.
All money raised will go directly to Fiachra and Therese for ongoing costs for treatment overseas.
During this time Therese will not be able to work.
The monies raised will also be utilised to adapt Fiachra’s home and purchase a suitably adapted vehicle for his needs and other expenses that will arise on his return from Germany.
As a committee we have lots of fundraising events planned but due to the present world crises we have to put these on hold. Sadly, Fiachra does not have time to wait he urgently needs to start this treatment.