Auryn’s set for US trial treatment programme
THE parents of a six year old boy fighting a rare form of childhood cancer have said they are “over the moon” after getting the news he has been accepted onto a trial programme to prevent his cancer from relapsing.
Auryn Phelan, a massive fan of the Avengers superheroes, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma in 2019, aged just four.
Since then, his parents, Sligo man Barry, originally from Highfield Road and wife Trisha, along with many friends and family across the country have been fundraising to raise money to give their son a chance to travel to the US for this life saving treatment.
‘Auryn’s Heroes’ was set up on GoFundMe in July last year with the hope of raising €375,000.
Through car washes, art auctions, marathon running and generous donations, over €460,000 has been raised to help cover the costs of providing life saving treatment for Auryn.
The money will allow the family to ensure Auryn has access to the treatment he needs to make sure he does not have a relapse.
Barry previously told The Sligo Champion the target of €375k seemed like a ‘daunting amount of money’ to raise and the couple were blown away by people’s generosity. Donations have ranged from €10 to as big as €20,000.
A superhero car wash that was held in Strandhill last September helped to raise over €4,000 and the oncology unit and Friends of Sligo University Hospital donating over €2,000.
If there is any money left over, it will be held in the Trust for any future treatment that Auryn may require. And if Auryn does not require treatment, the money will be donated to a childhood cancer charity.
Auryn’s dad praised businesses which,
even during difficult times of being closed due to lockdown, donated prizes and funds to help with the fundraising efforts.
Having endured 13 rounds of chemotherapy, two major surgeries, stem cell transplants and 14 rounds of radiotherapy, Auryn and his family can now look towards the start of his new journey in
the United States.
Due to the pandemic Auryn and his family have had to ensure they are being extra safe to make sure he does not contract Covid-19.
Auryn finished his treatment in Crumlin at the beginning of January and following some additional tests ordered by US consultants, he has been accepted
onto the US programme to receive the vaccine to help prevent relapse.
“We are travelling to New York for the first of a few trips this year to avail of the vaccine. This is only possible because of the support of each and every one of you and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Dad, Barry posted online.