Tag Archives: CF

AN EMOTIONAL appeal has been issued by the father of a young Shannon girl with Cystic Fibrosis, as the county’s rate of Covid-19 spiked sharply this week. Kieran McCarthy, dad of 12-year-old Aoibheann, and a member of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) is urging people not to become complacent about their safety and that of others, especially the most vulnerable. He said that in recent days, he has seen “crazy things,” that are very upsetting to his family and to others at risk. He told The Champion he believes the change in government has led to confusion over the safety message, and called for more to be done to convince younger people of the need to protect their families and the wider community. “Some people don’t understand because they have never had to experience illness or loss,” he said. “Some people are oblivious. Nine out of ten teens don’t understand hardship and loss. What they don’t realise is that it will …

A LOCAL charity has landed a major coup by securing a rare iconic horse racing photograph for a forthcoming auction. World-renowned Irish horse-racing trainer Aidan O’Brien has donated a signed, framed, embossed photograph of his historic one-two-three winning horses in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last year to the Truck Run 4 Katie charity. Once Aidan O’Brien heard about the charity, which raises money for medical equipment at the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit in memory of the late Katie Drennan who died in February 2015, he donated the photograph to her mother, Linda. Katie and her boyfriend of almost six years Josh Halley had previously met Mr O’Brien and the latter’s father also works for the trainer. When Linda’s brother, Rodger Lee, who is also involved in the horse-racing industry, approached the horse trainer to support the event, he was delighted to donate the photograph. Linda said Mr O’Brien has only two framed photographs of his historic triumph, one …

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients can now look forward to “gold standard” testing equipment, previously only available at international specialist centres. All proceeds from the Truck Run 4 Katie fundraising event have been used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit in the Leben Building at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). Katie Drennan, who died in February 2015 aged 24, tirelessly campaigned for better services for CF patients in UHL. The Truck Run 4 Katie, which was held in her memory last September, raised more than €120,000. Respiratory consultant Dr Brian Casserly said the new equipment means the hospital is now “operating at an international standard, above and beyond national standards for the treatment of CF patients”. “University Hospital Limerick wants to be the leading light in terms of CF and this is one step in that direction,” he added. CF patients attending UHL can now avail of equipment that provides direct measurement for exercise tolerance and capacity. Previously, …

The deaths of  two young people who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis caused shock in the county over the past week. Ennis woman, Katie Drennan and Noel Colleran Junior from Quin died within a day of each other. Farewell to ‘inspirational’ Katie People were shocked and saddened when news filtered through of the death of 24-year-old, Katie Drennan, Claureen, Lahinch Road, Ennis. Leading the tributes, Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland chief executive officer, Philip Watt described Katie as a “remarkable lady”, who was “inspirational” in her role as an advocate for all CF sufferers. Praising the dedication and hard work of Katie and her family for organising countless fundraising events in aid of the new €5.2 million purpose-built unit for CF sufferers at the University Hospital Limerick (UHL), he said last week was an extremely difficult and traumatic one for local CF sufferers and their families. Parish priest of Inagh and Kilnamona, Fr Sean Sexton, who was the chief celebrant at her …