Community rally around Leon
The isolation COVID-19 demands has, in some ways, brought people together. The story of Leon Briody is a case in point. Leon is the son of Diane and Alan from Corratubber, Cavan.
“The way the community has come together to support this family in a time of need is phenomenal,” Eamonn O'Reilly tells the Celt as a fundraising effort he initiated passed the €90,000 mark.
Four-year-old Leon was diagnosed with Leukaemia last December. The brave little boy commenced chemotherapy treatment and required regular visits to Crumlin hospital for treatment. Two weeks ago Leon got very sick after a phase of his chemotherapy. He has been in hospital getting intensive care since but is steadily progressing.
After talking a reluctant Briody family around, neighbour Eamonn set up a GoFundMe donation page in response to many friends and neighbours asking if they could help out. All money raised will go help Leon and his family to cover medical care and related costs.
“We started it a little over a week ago. It reached over €50,000 after 48 hours,” Eamon said of the astonishing response to the initiative. The early donations came from a most supportive community.
“Ballyhaise GAA football club undertook a 4x4x48 challenge. We had people doing Facebook competitions. There were three young people from one local family did a 50k cycle on their own 5k circuit and raised €500.”
The picture of Leon on the fundraising page shows a handsome young boy with a mass of curls: “You would look at that picture and find it very hard to pass by,” Eamonn says of the striking image of little Leon.
For Eamonn helping out the Briody family seemed a natural response: “I am a neighbour and I have a five-year-old child of my own. I have been involved in community fundraising before. We have raised funds for the school, the local football club and the community alert.
“I was talking to another neighbour, Ann Marie Larkin Brady, and we were wondering what we could do to help and show our support. Because of the restrictions, there is a feeling that you can't help, or you can't call. This was a way of helping,” he said.
The Briody family appreciate the public response.
“The family are completely overwhelmed with the amount of support. The money is fantastic, but the good wishes and to know that people are concerned about them and taking care of them means an awful lot as well,” Eamonn told the Celt.
On the GoFundMe page Diane and Alan thanked all who contributed saying: “We can not get over the kindness of everyone. It is so nice to know that so many people want to help.”
They concluded by saying: “He is now fighting a tough battle in ICU in Crumlin. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.”
Eamonn confirmed the family's gratitude: “I really means a lot to them that people have been so supportive. They have three other children at home, it is hard on them. They are lucky that they have good support from parents and family.”