Gaelic Football Blitz taking place at Naas Rugby Club this afternoon to raise funds for cancer treatment for brave Kildare man Michael Mullan

By Kim O'Leary

Sporting clubs from Naas and the surrounding areas will be coming together this St Stephen's Day to help raise money for the Michael Mullan Cancer Fund by hosting a GAA match at Naas Rugby Club at 2pm this afternoon.

Eadestown GAA, Kill GAA, Naas GAA and Two Mile House GAA clubs will all be featuring in the fundraising match alongside their hosts at Naas Rugby Club at 2pm, and they are looking for as much support as possible to be given to their cause.

Inspirational 26-year-old Michael Mullan from Eadestown is currently battling a rare form of metastasized renal cell cancer.

The young man needs to raise funds for treatment in the US as the required medical treatment is not currently available in Ireland. Brave Michael was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was 16 months old, and given a 1 in 4 chance of survival. After chemotherapy, surgery and a bone marrow transplant, Michael remained cancer free until he turned 22.

He went on to study Law and Business in Trinity College Dublin, but in his final year in college he was sadly diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma which required surgery (partial nephrectomy). Amazingly, Michael managed to graduate with top honours and earned a scholarship to complete a Masters in Law in the Harvard Law School.

Four months after moving to Boston with his girlfriend of 9 years, Mel, Michael was diagnosed with a rare form of metastasized renal cell cancer.

Luckily Michael was in the right city at the right time as new treatments were newly approved for his cancer. Unfortunately, this targeted chemotherapy is not available in Ireland.

Michael's doctors have advised him that he needs to remain in the US to continue receiving essential life-saving treatment and this year he spent Christmas Day in Boston having taken ill earlier in the week.

Michael has always dedicated his time to helping others and he has helped organise Kildare’s Relay for Life which raised €30,000.

For more information and to help visit https://ie.gofundme.com/MichaelMullansCancerFund