Donations are pouring in from across the country to help a young Cork man travel abroad for life-saving cancer treatment.
Friends and family have raised over €16,000 in a matter of hours for Macroom man Tyrone Murphy, who has received a devastating diagnosis after doctors discovered a tumour on his brain stem.
The 26-year-old Tyrone Murphy needs radiation treatment, and his sister has said the young man now has a ‘lifeline’ opportunity to travel to Manchester to receive 6-weeks of treatment under the NHS.
Tyrone’s sister Chloe set up an online fundraiser last night and said the family is “down on their knees” asking for help to ease their financial burden for what she says will be a “horrendous journey.”
Chloe set the target at €15,000, with generous donors managing to exceed it in less than 20 hours.
She described Tyrone as a “hard-working, honest, family-oriented young man.”
Tyrone is a first responder and EMT with the Critical Macroom CFR Group. The group described him as having the “biggest heart” with “a strong belief in giving back to his community by volunteering to help others.”
Chloe said she set up the GoFundMe page for her brother and said “never in my life did I think this would be at our front door. We’re all heartbroken but rooting and believing in a higher power.”
She added: “At the young age of 26, he’s been given a lifeline to go to Manchester to receive radiation treatment on a tumour that he has on his brain stem. This is a 6-week process and he will be recovering in a hotel/Airbnb over there also which will also incur additional fees.”
Their mother, Sharon, will stay with Tyrone over the ‘tough weeks ahead’ but has to take time off work to do so.
She said their family is “down on our knees asking for help… Tyrone deserves the right to treatment and to rest and recover at home, but that’s not possible with the type of brain cancer that he has.”
“His only option is to go travel to Manchester to receive this treatment. Our mom Sharon will stay over with Tyrone and care for him in the tough weeks that are ahead, but to do this she has to come out of work which in turn is going to have a crippling effect financially.
“Any little bit can help. I’m hoping deep down that community spirit is still alive and strong, The NHS will be paying for Tyrone’s treatment so all that’s left is his accommodation, transport and his care needs. Let’s make this already horrendous journey a little more easier,” she said and thanked “every single person” who has supported them so far.
See the GoFundMe for Tyrone Murphy here.