A GoFundMe page has been set up for a Newmarket father, who has terminal cancer.
Pamela Higgins has set up the page as a fundraiser for Patrick Sheedy, a Newmarket man now based in Kinsale.
Patrick is a father of six, and Pamela said he has shown a fantastic level of resilience in his cancer battle.
“He is unbelievably strong, he has really taken all of this in his stride. He has only just turned 50, he was diagnosed in 2017 and has been having treatment since then, he’s had a number of operations. It’s gone to his liver, gone to his lungs, I think he’s had four or five operations on the liver.
“He’s really gone through the mill, really suffered, but never complained. Never said why did this happen to me, anything like that, he’s always very upbeat and positive. He’s just unbelievably strong.”
Originally from Newmarket, he met his wife Jayne in Manchester and they moved to Kinsale some time ago.
Together they have five children, Eoin, Ciara, Lexi, Casey and Kole, who is just one year old. Patrick also has another son from a previous relationship, Patrick Anglin, who has represented Ireland in rugby league.
At the time of writing Patrick Snr was staying in Marymount Hospice, and Pamela said the funding is being raised to help the family make the most of the time left to him.
“It’s to try and make things a bit easier for Jayne and the children, to give them the chance to make some memories with the time they have left.”
Pamela points out that Jayne is looking after Paddy at home as well as looking after their five children and continues to also work her evening job on the switchboard for a local taxi firm in Kinsale.
Pamela has said the goal is to raise some funds for the family so that Jayne could take a well deserved break from work so that they can spend some quality time together as a family.
“I know Paddy has expressed an interest in taking the children to EuroDisney for a couple of days while he is still able to travel. A one or two nights break for them in a family hotel even in Ireland would be amazing.”
Anyone who wishes to make a contribution should go to GoFundMe.com and search for Paddy and Jayne Sheedy.
Pamela said she was very impressed with the response to it so far.
“People are very kind, the generosity is unbelievable.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.