A young Co Meath boy has not only beaten cancer but also helped to raise just over €24,000 to buy 57 game consoles and 200 games for sick children in Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin.
Darragh Murtagh (12) noticed the hospital was in need of the play equipment after he had to wait in line to use an Xbox during his treatment in St John’s Ward.
After a huge operation and draining bouts of chemotherapy, he became the honorary chief executive of the Athboy Mums Fundraising Team to organise a medley of events around his home town. They included the mini-marathon, Operation Transformation and even a school sports day which was attended by Meath footballer Joe Sheridan and Kerry forward Colm "the Gooch" Cooper.
Their efforts raised enough money to buy 19 Xboxes, 19 PlayStations, 19 Wiis and over 200 games for the 19 wards in St John’s unit.
Local man Aidan Smyth volunteered to make a wooden games trolley and key which can be wheeled around the wards to allow the children to choose their own game for each console.
The games, which include all the latest hit titles, were donated to the hospital in recent weeks.
Darragh, who lives on a farm near Athboy, was just 11 when he was diagnosed with cancer after a tumour was discovered on his knee in March 2013. He underwent knee replacement surgery in Cappagh hospital, followed by intense chaemotherapy until last December.
Hhe is now in remission and enjoying life as a fifth class student in O’Growney National School in Athboy. He stills needs a lot of physiotherapy and faces more operations as his bones grow in the future.
Alma McClorey and Breege Tuite set up the Athboy Mums fundraising group after hearing about Darragh through their sons Jack and Liam.
“Everyone is just thrilled at how Athboy rowed in to help Darragh. What’s more, he was in the thick of things since we asked for advice on what to spend any funds on. He’s a real trooper.”
Thirty members of the Athboy Mums Fundraising Team will take part in the Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin over the June bank holiday weekend to raise additional funds.
When asked if he would like to be a chief executive of a bigger company when he grew up, Darragh said: “I’m not sure about that but I think I’ll be a part-time farmer anyway.”