Running for Graham

Heya, my name is Natalie Geraghty a lot of you know me from  the reality tv show called Tallafornia aired on TV3. Recently I came across a story about a lad called Graham and his struggles with cancer I was touched by his story and felt just giving a donation wasnt enough so i got into contact with him and decided I would run the Rock'n'Roll half marathon on the 5th of august and try and raise money for him. The marathon starts at Stephens Green and ends at Earlsfort Terrace it is 13.1 miles long. This is the first time ive ran a marathon and am aiming to raise one thousand euro or more if i can so im going to need all the donations I can get even donating as little as a euro will help its for a really good cause and speaking to graham he truely deserves all the help he can get. Below I have copied Grahams story and would like yous to have a read of it so you understand where your money is going and how much it can help Graham. Hi, my name is Graham Parkinson From Dublin Ireland, I am 20 years old and I have been battling cancer for the last six and a half years. I have a rare tumour in my lower back, it is called a malignant peripheral nerve sheath.I first discovered I had cancer in the year 2007. I wasn't able to go the toilet as I felt a lot of pain. I was taken to Temple Street Hospital where they found the pain was coming from a tumour in my lower back. I was transferred to Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin to start chemotherapy treatment. I was just fourteen, still a child and terrified of the unknown. The nurse inserted a Hickman line so they could administer chemotherapy or other medications. Mum and I called it "FREDDIE".Soon after this I went to St. Luke's for radiotherapy. I have been to the UK twice for surgery to an Orthopaedic Hospital. The rollercoaster of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery has left its mark both physically and emotionally on me and my family. Mum has been my rock every step of the way. I know most people adore their mother’s but I have been blessed with the best. She has been by my side through it all even if that meant sleeping on chairs in hospitals beside me for all for years. I thank God for her as I don’t think I could have got this far without her.I left school at a young age and the constant treatments and operations took away my dream of playing football. Football was all I could think about while I was going through treatment. I was constantly asking the doctors when I would be able to get back to playing football. It was all I wanted. Cancer took away most of my childhood. I suppose I did not realise at the time how serious my condition was but I could see all of my friends out playing football, enjoying themselves with not a care in the world while I was in stuck in hospital for long periods of time. I couldn’t understand why this happened to me, why not leave me alone.After what seemed like an endless amount of  treatments I was clear of cancer for nearly 4 years and I immediately got back to playing football. I was so happy, I felt I could get on with my life. Then in April of last year we were hit with another bombshell when the doctor gave us the results of my MRI scan. The cancer was back. It was a nightmare, my 3rd time why me again, why did the cancer come back when I was at a happy time of my life.I was sent over to the UK to discuss treatments and surgery. I had severe pain all over my body and I learned the surgeon could not operate on me because the tumour had grown too big. I am just 20 years old, I have tried to make lifestyle changes for with my diet and exercise so that I can keep going on living as I am.I am desperately trying to raise the money to go to a hospital in Germany for the treatment needed to shrink this tumour. The treatment is not available in Ireland.  If you can help me in any way possible I would be more that grateful. This treatment is my only hope and it could possibly save my life.A million thanks for taking the time and for caring, Love Grahamhttps://www.facebook.com/GrahamsCancerFundListen to Graham on 98FM: http://media.98fm.com/podcast/32670/ Costs of Treatment in BioMed Hospital The cost of Grahams treatment has been estimated for one stay of 14 days in the clinic as between 7-12K with extra costs for his mother to sleep in his hospital room with him.We initally set a goal of 8k but then after receiving info on costs of the treatmnet we changed our goal to 12K which would have paid for one of Grahams treatments. Graham will probably have to go over for treatment 3+ times ( we wont know the exact costs or how many times he will have to go for treatment until he is there) so we are now going to increase our goal to 20k in the hopes that Graham will be able to continue his treatment after his first visit and shrink his tumour below 10cm