Ballaghaderreen family raise €289,000 for childhood cancer charities in memory of C.J.

A massive fundraising campaign by a Ballaghaderreen family in memory of their son C.J. who lost his brave battle with cancer at just 21 months in 2023, has raised €289, 013 for Oscar’s Kids and Hand in Hand.

The McCann family launched CJs Rainbow Cycle on April 22nd, 2024 and decided it was fitting to conclude the efforts on the same day two years later, following an action-packed two years of events.

“It feels like a full circle for us,” said C.J.’s father, Joe, who was one of 21 cyclists that travelled from Malin to Mizen in August 2024, in memory of his son, C.J., who passed away from cancer in 2023.

Joe decided to undertake the mammoth cycling challenge to fundraise for two childhood cancer charities, Oscar’s Kids and Hand-in-Hand, but never could have imagined that so many other fundraising events and efforts would ensure the fundraising continued long before and after the cycle.

“People were so incredibly generous; friends, family, and strangers,” said Joe.

“We started this journey hoping to shine to light on what these amazing charities do, and to help other families who find themselves in the position we were with C.J.” Joe and Niamh’s son, C.J. was just 21 months old when he lost his battle with a rare and aggressive brain cancer, ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour), in October 2023, and it was during his son’s time on St. John’s National Paediatric Oncology Ward, that Joe decided he would fundraise for some the charities that helped and supported the family during one of the toughest times of their lives.

“Fundraising for these amazing charities helped to focus our energies, and to give C.J. a legacy his life deserves,” he said.

“Handing over that cheque, knowing the difference it will make to other families is very special, and something that we are really proud of as a family,” he said.

Joe, and 20 other volunteers took on the gruelling Malin Head to Mizen Head cycle, but the cycle was just a catalyst for an incredible outpouring of goodwill from near and far, as fundraising events were organised up and down the country, with everything from community events, bake sales and marathons, to mountain climbs and colour runs. There was also an incredible day at McHale Park, where Mayo manager, Andy Moran, put Ireland AM’s Deric Ó h’Artagáin and several dozen athletes through their paces. Over the course of the few days around the Ireland AM feature, fundraising surpassed the initial goal and continued to spiral upwards.

“We had ambitiously hoped to raise €100,000 to help these two charities to support families who are trying to cope with a cancer diagnosis,” said Joe.

“Once we hit that, the figure just kept going up, and we are so grateful to every person who helped us raise money for these two wonderful charities; words will never go far enough to thank Oscar’s Kids and Hand-in-Hand for all they do.” Hand in Hand is a national childhood cancer charity, based in Loughrea, which supports families all over Ireland, helping them to cope with the impact of treatment on family life. This support includes counselling, play therapy for children and/or siblings, complementary therapies, hot meals, laundry, and domestic cleaning.

“People don’t often think about the impact on siblings and the rest of the family in these situations, but Hand-in-Hand are an amazing charity to support a family unit coping with this journey,” explained Joe, “and we are so glad to be able to help their efforts.” The second charity to benefit from the huge fundraising effort is Oscar’s Kids, who support families coping with a child's terminal cancer diagnosis; the charity aims to create moments of magic during the toughest of times. Their incredible support enabled the McCann family to plan C.J.’s Magical Christmas before his passing, the only Christmas spent with C.J. at home. Oscar's Kids charity encourages families to choose fun, adventure, magic, dreams and memories in the time that the family has left with their precious child; their approach is to outweigh the hardship and pain with fun, laughter and love.

“What Yav and Lar at Oscar’s Kids do for families is something very special, and we are delighted to be able to help them to continue this amazing work.” Another important element of their fundraising efforts was remembering C.J. through it all.

“It was just incredible to bring C.J. on this adventure; it united so many people,” said Joe.

“I hope C.J. is proud of all that Team McCann have achieved in his name.”