It’s been almost a year since my youngest brother John slipped into eternal life after a battle with cancer that began in 2020. And it’s taken me almost as long to be able to type this.
Anniversaries are full of power and they draw in heart, mind and spirit. As John’s first anniversary approaches, the various things that ought to be done act as stepping stones to carry us along.
One of these is a visit to the Mercy Hospital, Cork, where John received most of his treatments.
The visit was to fulfil one of John’s plans. A year and half ago, he decided to auction one of his prized Belgian Blue heifers at a charity auction and donate the proceeds to the hospital – where he was a patient at the time. However, the illness got in the way of his plans so it fell to his family and close friends to organise the rest of the project.
The sale was organised as part of the weekly sales at Skibbereen Mart.
A group of John’s friends came together and formed a syndicate to buy the heifer. Each of them contributed to the difference between the market price of the animal and the sale price that day. The heifer was sold for €3,250. A further €2,000 which John had also set aside for the Mercy Hospital was added and this week we presented the total to the Mercy University Hospital Foundation.
The funds will be used to fund a soon to be opened new Carcer Support Centre adjacent to the hospital. Here, people going through treatment for cancer can get support away from the business of the wards.
