East Kilbride News

Liverpool star’s kind donation for Mikey

Family secure March date for life-changing surgery

- ANDREA LAMBROU

An East Kilbride youth team dug deep to help a sick East Kilbride footballer over his fundraisin­g finish line.

EKYC auctioned off a signed Liverpool strip at their annual sportsman’s dinner and raised £4000 for the Miracle for Mikey campaign.

The fundraisin­g drive is in aid of nine-year-old EK Rolls Royce youth player Michael McNulty who flies to Spain next month for life-changing surgery.

The sports-mad St Louise pupil, who also plays basketball for Paisley Basketball Club and South Lanarkshir­e Colliers, has the incurable neurologic­al condition Chiari Malformati­on where the brain is too big for the skull, causing extreme pain.

Mikey has a severe herniation – which sees brain tissue shift – of 21mm and a cyst on his brain.

His family launched the Miracle for Mikey campaign to raise the £200,000 needed for less invasive preventati­ve surgery overseas and, in just four months, smashed their fundraisin­g target through various community fundraiser­s.

They have now booked their flights for the operation in Barcelona on March 24.

After hearing about the EK RR player’s plight, EKYC showed their support at their annual sports dinner.

Mikey’s family were invited to the event as special guests and addressed the crowd.

For the third year running, Liverpool FC club captain Jordan Henderson donated a beautifull­y-framed top, signed by the Champions League winning squad.

The winning bid of £3000 from Ian Leroy of Subcool

Air Conditioni­ng Ltd, was donated to Mikey’s cause with EKYC kindly adding £1000 to the final sum.

The money will go towards the costs of getting Mikey to The Chiari Institute in Barcelona to undergo surgery for the life-threatenin­g condition he has fought and suffered with most of his young life.

EKYC would like to pass on their sincere gratitude to Liverpool FC club captain Jordan Henderson for once again supporting the club, and the owners of Subcool for not only being so generous in their support to Michael on the night, but for the incredible support they give the club.

Thanking everyone who has supported the cause, Mikey’s delighted mum Donna said: “We have booked flights for Barcelona and the operation will be on March 24.

“This would not have been possible without the help of all our friends and family, EKRR, EKYC, Basketball Paisley, South Lanarkshir­e Colliers and Glasgow Rocks.

“To all those that have donated, shared our posts and helped us along this journey, we are so very thankful.”

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 ??  ?? Great effort EKYC offer up their fundraisin­g efforts to Mikey, centre
Great effort EKYC offer up their fundraisin­g efforts to Mikey, centre
 ??  ?? Brave Mikey will head to Barca for life-changing surgery
Brave Mikey will head to Barca for life-changing surgery

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