A fundraising drive is under way to help save the life of a Co Kildare man.
Mick Springate (43) from Roseberry, Newbridge, has sarcoma, a rare form of lung cancer. He relocated to New York recently with his wife Máire and their children Sadhbh (8) and Cian (6), to pursue his only chance of beating the disease.
The treatment he needs is available only at the Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York and is likely to cost more than €500,000. The hospital will only start each phase of treatment when payment is received.
He is expected to start treatment within a fortnight.
Mick's relatives and friends have set up the Springate Family Cancer Support Trust and have organised a series of fundraising events.
He has already undergone two aggressive courses of chemotherapy in Ireland, but they failed to stop the spread of the cancer. Sarcoma is chemotherapy resistant.
Fundraising efforts are already under way, with sponsored bag-packing taking place in Dunnes Stores this week.
A website has been set up (www.springatecancertrust.com) as well as a bank account, account number 875 46460, sort code 99 06 45.
One of the biggest fundraising events will be a Last of the Summer Wine ball in the Keadeen Hotel on October 14th.
