Hope for cian raises over 380000 to date

A massive fundraising drive in support of little Cian McDonnell Lynch from Carlanstown, who needs a life-saving double lung transplant in the US, has raised a total of €383,363 to date.

Cian suffers from a severe from of Dyskeratosis Congenita, a rare condition that affects one in a million. Without a double lung transplant little Cian may only have months to live. Cian’s last hope is Boston Children’s Hospital where he recently under went five days of assessment by doctors who will decide whether to put him on the transplant list there. The operation costs a staggering $1m dollars. The four-year-old must now have a liver biopsy in Ireland and doctors in Boston will then make their final decision.

Cian was delighted to return to pre-school today and his mum Lisa explained that they are trying to make life as normal as possible for him while they wait for the liver biopsy, results and a final decision on whether Cian will be put on the list for a double lung transplant in Boston.

In a massive boost to the Hope for Cian trust, One Direction superstar Niall Horan has donated one of his guitars for sale.
Mandy Shipp, secretary of the Hope for Cian committee said they are now pleading to a wealthy individual or a company to make major donation in return for Niall’s guitar.
There is also a personal letter from Niall’s father Bobby, confirming its authenticity and explaining that the guitar was used at home by Niall through his teenage years before he found fame with the world’s biggest boy band One Direction.
Anyone interested in making a major donation in return for the guitar, can contact hopeforcian@gmail.com. If the offer of a major donation is not made, the committee will look at auctioning off the guitar on ebay instead.

Also last week, Australia actor Stephen Peacocke who played Brax in ‘Home and Away’ recorded a lovely message for Cian and he also urged people to do donate to the cause.

Ms Shipp said fundraising efforts are spreading beyond the county and that events are being organised not just in Meath but also in Cavan, Louth and Westmeath, as well as across the Atlantic in Boston and New York to raise the $1m dollars needed to pay for the operation.

McKeons Kells will donate all proceeds from their car wash from today (10th September) to Wednesday, 16th September.

Coin collections take place this Saturday, 12th September from 11am-3pm in Gormley’s Pharmacy, Kells, O’Neill’s Centra, Mullagh and Jack Kiernan & Sons, Trimgate Street, Navan.

A ‘Flix for Cian’ night of 80s and 90s music takes place in the Headfort Arms on Friday, 18th September. For details of these and other fundraisers see ‘Hope for Cian’ on facebook.