Raising funds for charity in wake of mum’s diagnosis

“I have seen people around me fighting with cancer with full strength and their fights have inspired me to take a challenge for myself.”

James Kilcullen, a 40-yearold man from Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon is preparing for a unique 209 miles cycling challenge to fundraise for the Irish Cancer Society.

His mother Mabel Kilcullen, a native of Dromard, County Sligo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, while his friend Nial Kane from Simonstown Co. Meath is also fighting cancer at the minute.

Watching two people bravely fighting a common enemy led James to challenge himself and do something to help his loved ones and other people who are going through something similar.

He registered himself for a unique cycling challenge ‘Chase the Sun’, organised by UK based Macmillan Cancer Support. It is a 209 miles cycling challenge held every year in the month of June in multiple countries like Italy, UK and Ireland.

In Ireland, the chase starts from Belfast at sunrise and finishes at Enniscrone, Sligo at sunset, it’s a coast-to-coast cycling experience and not a race.

The cyclists pass through all terrains on the way exploring the Irish sea, mythical landscapes, forests, peaks, loghs and the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way.

James is currently living in Armagh, Northern Ireland and working in Drogheda as a maintenance technician. He said: “Initially, me and my friends just wanted to see if we could do something like this, as it is already organised by a charity group.

“I decided to set up a GoFundMe page because my own mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this time last year, then I also found out about my friend Nial Kane who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“So, I thought this challenge could be a good opportunity to give a helping hand to Nial and the Irish Cancer Society, on a personal level.

“My mother is not very well and we don’t know what might happen next. She was diagnosed last year and it came as a shock for all of us.

“My brother is a pharmacist, my wife is a nurse and my mother herself has been a nurse, but nobody ever thinks that something like this can hit someone in their own family.

“My mother is very pragmatic and practical, so when she got the diagnosis she was like let’s get the treatment done. No need to be thinking about it too much.”

James’ parents Mabel and Paddy Joe Kilcullen are originally from Dromard, Sligo, but they moved to Ballaghaderreen due to his father’s job with the Gardai.

Mabel was born in Sligo and after being trained as nurse in England she came back and started working at St. John’s hospital in Sligo.

She was working at Ballymote nursing home at the time of her diagnosis and kept herself strong while going through her own treatments.

James’ sisters Louise and Karen Kilcullen have been taking care of their mother and live close to her.

Talking about their mother’s diagnosis and treatments Louise said: “Mum initially went to her doctor in December 2022 with pain in her side and the doctor sent her to Mater Private hospital in Dublin.

“She got her scans done and it was the end of April last year when she got her diagnosis.

“She was then asked if she wanted to get treatment in Galway or Sligo, but she didn’t understand that she had a choice.

“She was born in Sligo, and we live only 40 minutes away from Sligo. So, she went to Sligo University Hospital for her treatments and chemotherapy.

“It’s known that Pancreatic cancer cannot be treated but the chemotherapy was only going to hold on to her life, she was never going to be cured. She has received palliative care. She has mostly been at home and the hospice staff might call to see her or be in touch with her on the phone.

“In December she decided that she couldn’t take chemotherapy anymore as it was too invasive, and it was making her more sicke. So, I contacted the hospital, and they arranged for a community nurse to come in every week and the hospice is in contact with her every day or every week as well.

“Everything is extremely tough, but it’s a very natural fact. So, there is no crying going on and mum has accepted that this is the way it is and that’s been her word for all of our life.

“She was doing great, meeting friends and going out for a walk, she never became dependent on anyone.

“From December until the start of April, she has been brilliant, but in the last two weeks she has been going down.

“We don’t know what to expect and what to do. We can just take every day as it comes and thank God for that.

“It’s kind of a double-edged sword, as we don’t want her to be suffering either.

“She is now living at North West Hospice nearing the end of her life. We are trying to get her home to spend her last few days there.

“Mum is an amazing and courageous person who has shown immense strength and dignity throughout her illness, wearing a smile all the time.

“We are also thankful to the Sligo University Hospital and the Hospice for the care and support they have given to her and ourselves.

“When James told me he was doing this cycle, I wasn’t one bit surprised. He has always been an extremely focused and committed person.

“One of the overwhelming feelings that I have associated with mum’s diagnosis is a feeling of helplessness and I am sure James has felt it too.

“It’s just a testament to the kind of person James is, that he channels this emotion by helping others in the same situation.”

James wants to fundraise not only to express gratitude but to support the Irish Cancer Society in their research and development of cures, so that it can help other people who are going through something similar.

He said: “I want to help fund the research that might be able to develop a cure for these diseases one day. I want to help the cancer society to help others in need.

“Then I also want to give a hand to my friend Nial. At first I was not even aware of his diagnosis and the hardships he is going through.

“I saw a fundraiser for him on GoFundme and then I contacted him. I told him that I was doing this cycle and it would be great opportunity to fundraise for him.

“My mother’s health is declining day by day, and we are just trying to make her as much comfortable as we can. I just hope that my fundraiser might be able to save someone.”

The cycling event ‘Chase the Sun’ will be held on 22nd June, starting from Belfast to Enniscrone, Sligo.

James’ Go Fund Me page can be found at https://gofund. me/32e2f58f