Leinster Rugby v Dragons

LEINSTER RUGBY CHARITY PARTNER
The Gavin Glynn Foundation
IN IRELAND, EVERY WEEK, FOUR
FAMILIES ARE TOLD ‘YOUR
CHILD HAS CANCER’.
Each year in Ireland,
approximately 220 children are
newly diagnosed with cancer in
Ireland. Whilst cancer in young
people is rare, it is still a major
health issue in Ireland and
worldwide.
Despite improving survival rates, cancer is
still the leading cause of death by disease
beyond one year of age in the EU.
One in five children will lose their battle
to cancer.
Cancers in children differ from cancers
in adults. The most frequent childhood
cancers are leukaemias, tumours of the
central nervous system (CNS), brain
tumours and neuroblastomas.
Childhood cancer generally cannot be
prevented or screened.
Unfortunately, this means that most
children are diagnosed after the disease
has spread, making the disease more
difficult to treat and requiring more
intensive and therefore more toxic
treatments.
Improving outcomes for children with
cancer requires early and accurate
diagnosis, followed by effective treatment.
ABOUT THE GAVIN
GLYNN FOUNDATION
The Gavin Glynn Foundation was set
up by John and Jayne Glynn - parents
of Gavin Glynn who passed away from
cancer aged just four and a half years
old, on October 21, 2014.
During Gavin’s battle with cancer the
Glynn family travelled to a number of
different countries for specialist cancer
treatment for their youngest son.
Through this experience, they learnt
exactly what is involved in organising
transport, accommodation and most
importantly - seeking out the best
specialist care available for their son’s
cancer.
The Foundation understand the strain that
this logistical organisation puts on families
who are already dealing with huge
anxiety and sadness.
The Gavin Glynn Foundation believes
that all children with cancer deserve the
best care, wherever in the world that
might be.
Keeping the whole family together,
during travel for a child’s cancer
treatment, is essential for the wellbeing
of the patient, as well as the parents
and siblings and by taking the financial
burden and stress of arranging travel
from these families, it allows parents focus
all their time on their child and family.
The Gavin Glynn Foundation arrange all
logistics and cover all costs associated
with:
• Transportation (e.g. Flights, Car Hire).
• Transportation to and from the
designated Airports.
• Accommodation within, or close to,
the designated medical centre.
• Food and living expenses for the
duration of the child’s treatment while
abroad.
The Foundation also funds independent
second opinions so that patients can
be matched with appropriately focused
physicians and scientists worldwide and
next generation molecular testing which
uses genetic information to determine the
right treatment, for the right patient, at the
right time.
The Gavin Glynn Foundation is the only
registered charity in Ireland providing this
support for families battling childhood
cancer.
To date, with the support of the
Foundation’s amazing supporters, The
Gavin Glynn Foundation has been able
to help 150 families from all over Ireland.
The foundation currently does not receive
any government funding so rely on public
donations and many fundraising events
like triathlons, runs and sea swims.
From The Ground Up | 68 | www.leinsterrugby.ie