€100,000 boost to Mannix appeal

The appeal to raise funds for four-year-old Kildalkey boy Mannix Kane, who suffers from a rare form of cancer, received a massive boost last week after an anonymous trust fund donated €100,000 to the campaign. Mannix's mother Noleen said it was a "phenomenal" donation and explained that the money had been raised to send a 14 year-old boy to America for treatment but sadly the boy passed away shortly after having his initial consultation. There was €100,000 left in the fund and when the trustees heard about little Mannix Kane, they wanted to help the child, and they made the anonymous donation. Ms Kane said she has been overwhelmed by the response and support they had received, not just from their friends, but also friends of friends and many people they had never even met. A facebook page set up for the appeal has 4,000 supporters and Ms Kane said they get constant messages of support from people every day. "We want to express our gratitude from the bottom of our hearts. We have been so touched and overwhelmed by the support and what people are doing to raise money," she said. Apart from the €100,000 donation, the Mannix Kane appeal has raised approximately €30,000 so far, with the recent fundraiser in the Snug in Kildalkey raising €10,000. Events throughout Meath and Ireland and even as far away as Barbados are being organised for the campaign. Just two weeks before Christmas, Bryan and Noleen learned the devastating news that Mannix was suffering from clear cell sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He has two tumours- one on his kidney and the second behind his right eye. Brave Mannix has been undergoing combination chemotherapy treatment in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, for the past 12 weeks as part of his treatment plan. Because the chance of relapse with this type of tumour is very high, fundraising has been taking place so that Mannix can travel to America for clinical trials that are not available in Ireland or Europe, should his treatment here fail. Mannix has been coping very well with his treatment and Ms Kane said he is in "good spirits" and is "well in himself". "If you spoke to the child, you would never know what is going on inside him. He is a great little spirited fellow, full of life and full of beans. He is not so ill that he is lying in bed, the fact he can get around and play, he is happy enough," said Ms Kane. Mannix has just finished his fourth cycle of chemotherapy and will have ten cycles in total. He will undergo scans on Friday which will be crucial in determining how successful the treatment has been so far. The last few months have been very difficult for Noleen and Bryan who also have a fourteen-month old son Noah, and Noleen said she is still "shell-shocked". "Initially it was a like a bomb exploded in our lives. I was in complete denial and felt such anger and disbelief. I still feel numb and it is like going through the motions. Its not living really, it is existing," explained Noleen but said they have to stay strong for Mannix and also their baby son Noah. Paul Hennessy, who runs the Evolution Stage School with Tracey Carty, has launched a CD in aid of the appeal. Mannix is a member of their Kildalkey class. Mr Hennessy was given a song written by Charlie McGettigan which was recorded with the students of Evolution Stage School. 'To Be A Child Again' is now available on iTunes worldwide, and because iTunes are not taking any money, every cent from every sale goes to the appeal (99c for one song or €2.97 for all three). The CD, priced at €5, is also going into many shops and is selling really well. All stockists are listed on the following websites: www.evolutionstageschool.com www.mannixkaneappeal.org Fundraising is also under way to send four-year-old Stamullen girl Emma Byrne to Britain in the hope that doctors there will be able to diagnose the mystery condition she is suffering from. Emma is a daughter of Pat and Sinead Byrne, Kilbreck, Stamullen, and is the granddaughter of popular Stamullen M Donnelly Road Club members Kay and Gay Howard. Emma will travel to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London where she will undergo tests and treatment by a leading professor and doctor of paediatrics and respiratory. Emma has attended every leading Irish hospital but doctors have unfortunately failed to diagnose her condition. A benefit night will take place in the Ring Commons Sports Centre, Co Dublin, at 8.30pm on Saturday, 20th February. Money raised wil help allay the massive bills that the family has had to burden as a result of Emma's illness. Tickets are available locally in Stamullen.