NEWRY and Armagh MP Conor Murphy has been joined by local Sinn Féin MLAs, Megan Fearon, Cathal Boylan and Francie Molloy at a Stormont-hosted event for the Oscar Knox Appeal.
The brave Northern Ireland three-year-old is fighting neuroblastoma, a very aggressive cancer that affects babies and young children.
Oscar needs immunotherapy treatment to help stimulate his immune system, so that his own body should be able to recognise the neuroblastoma if it was to return. This is always a worry with this deadly disease, where the relapse rates are high.
The treatment abroad which Oscar requires costs as much as £250,000.
The whole of Northern Ireland have taken Oscar’s cause to their hearts and fundraising events – including the sale of special wristbands – have been helping amass the money needed for treatment.
Said Newry and Armagh Assembly Member Megan Fearon: “I was pleased to offer my support for Oscar and his family. The response to his appeal has been amazing and I only hope that the fundraising enables little Oscar to successfully receive the specialist medical attention he requires and that he beats this dreadful disease.”
Newry and Armagh colleague, Cathal Boylan, echoed her sentiments.
“I have been aware of Oscar’s appeal for some time,” he said. “Like many others, I was really disappointed that, when he visited the USA recently for treatment, he was unable to proceed due to illness.
“He is a little fighter and, hopefully, he will get a second chance to receive the potentially life-saving treatment in the near future. I wish him and his parents all the best and urge everyone to support this very worthy cause.”
