Good cause

Former Kerry star offered life-saving operation
24 February 2012
A former Kerry footballer who is battling cancer has been offered the chance to undergo an operation in London that could save his life.

Forty-year-old Valentia native Paul Curran, who has been diagnosed with cancer of the intestine and liver, needs to raise €80,000 to have the surgery. It may be his last hope of survival after treatment in Ireland proved unsuccessful.

A committee has been formed to raise funds for Paul's treatment, with a collection set to take place at Kerry's Allianz Football League game against Laois on March 26. Paul lined out for Kerry in the 1991 All-Ireland U21 final against Tyrone, and played for the seniors the following year. He won a Dublin SFC medal with Ballyboden St. Enda's in 1995 and also played with St. Olaf's while based in the capital.

"This is Paul's only chance, it's literally a life-saving treatment," Paul's cousin Noel Curran explained to Kerry's Eye.

"He has been in London to see a consultant and he has been deemed suitable for treatment. We had been told originally that he is terminally ill, but this is his one chance."

If anybody wishes to help contact [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Real Kerry Fan wrote:A committee has been formed to raise funds for Paul's treatment, with a collection set to take place at Kerry's Allianz Football League game against Laois on March 26.

Hardly an encouraging prospect. I hope the buckets survive intact.....

Good luck to them in their quest all the same.

Hopefully Box. St. Olafs and Ballyboden have already had fundraising nights plus the Valentia. A good man with a young family.

This is certainly a good cause to support, thanks for posting up the link RKF. Best wishes to Paul and his family during this tough time and I really hope he receives the treatment to beat this awful illness.

Thanks Mugs.

Just to let you all know Paul had a few operations in London and the results are good. It should give him a good life for a few years at least but the prospects may extend beyond that. The money raised was over 80 k and the HSE would not contribute one cent as they felt it was a waste of time. Proves a point that his family should be proud of is always never give up hope and look for second opinions. Good news lads.

Good news and best wishes to all.
Without knowing full facts here this does seem shocking that the HSE would not support this. I don,t know what criteria they adopt but i would have thought if there was a genuine chance of significantly pro-longing a life that the state would have an obligation to be responsible.

OMAR wrote:Good news and best wishes to all.
Without knowing full facts here this does seem shocking that the HSE would not support this. I don,t know what criteria they adopt but i would have thought if there was a genuine chance of significantly pro-longing a life that the state would have an obligation to be responsible.

Thanks Omar. The HSE's attitude in this case was that he would not live beyond late this year(10 months) so waste of money. Anyway things have turned out well.

Excellent news, and well done to all those involved in carrying the fight - really great to hear!

great news indeed - goes to show were a bit of determination can get you.