Newport community rally together to help raise €100,000 for cancer victim
The community of Newport in Co Tipperary has banded together to help raise €100,000 for one of its residents, 29-year-old Kevin Bourke who has a rare form of cancer.
Kevin, who was diagnosed with the inoperable thymic squamous cell carcinoma last year, needs immunotherapy treatment as soon as possible to give him a fighting chance at life.
He is currently on round three of a four-round cycle of chemotherapy but his body is not able for more chemo and he now needs to switch to immunotherapy treatment.
The treatment works on the immune system to help fight the disease and doesn’t have as many side effects as chemo and would improve the quality of Kevin’s life.
The cost per infusion is €8,085 and it is forecast that Kevin will need a minimum of eight infusions for the treatment to work. Kevin's application the HSE for funding was rejected.
Kevin’s Go Fund Me Page, named The Kevin Bourke Treatment Fund, was set up by Tipperary Hurler Seán O’Brien and other close friends of Kevin.
It went viral very quickly and over €60,000 has already been raised from people from all over Ireland and abroad.
Kevin's story
Kevin first developed severe neck pain in 2016 but an MRI didn’t show any abnormalities in December of that year. Despite numerous visits to physiotherapists and pain management specialists, no one could find what was wrong.
Early 2018 Kevin developed shortness of breath while out walking and in May 2018 a chest x-ray revealed a cancerous mass in his left upper chest.
Kevin was told this was inoperable due to its proximity to his heart. IV chemotherapy began immediately which proved promising.
However, in early 2019, another tumor developed on his skin, again treated with chemo but more bad news followed with yet another growth close to his heart developing.
Despite being utterly shocked with the news that he had cancer, Kevin came to terms very quickly with the diagnosis and very matter of factly according to his mother.
“He never let it get to him. He made a decision there and then not to even google it.
He just asked what’s next and has since been following the doctor’s plans to get him back on track.
Even on his darkest day, the days he is so weak, he still remains positive and I’m so proud of him for this,” said Castleconnell native Mary Bourke (Barry), Kevin’s mother who is currently looking after him in the family home in Newport.
Kevin, who completed a Masters in culture and colonization in NUIG, was working as a digital marketing executive up until his diagnosis in Limerick. He shared a house with his younger brother Ruairi.
Kevin, whom Mary describes as “the most positive person” she knows, is a sports fanatic.
He has played soccer with Newport Town AFC and played hurling with C.L.G Tulach Sheasta for many years.
The Bourke family lived in Roscrea until 2005, where Kevin’s late father John was from.
Kevin settled in Newport when he was a teenager and attended St. Mary’s Secondary School where he developed so many wonderful friendships.
Before being diagnosed with cancer, Kevin had seen a lot of the world. He taught English in South Korea and lived to Canada. It is his dream, when he gets better, to visit South America with friends.
Mary said she hopes “the community can give her son a chance at life".
We just don’t have this kind of money for the treatment but if we don’t get it for him I don’t know what will happen. It’s now down to the wire.
This needs to happen immediately. Chemo will soon not be an option as his body can’t take it anymore,” said Mary.
“To be honest up to now the whole community in Newport has shown just how great they are.
"People who Kevin never even met have arrived at the door with holy water, holy medals, prayers, offers of help and good wishes.
"We have been so humbled by this kindness; it makes the whole process a little easier on us all.”
“It warms my heart to see so many of Kevin’s pals call to see him all the time.
"There are times where there is a gang of lads in the living room sitting with Kevin, checking in on him, sharing the weekend’s sports on tele,” said Mary.
Mary continued, “If we could raise this money it would mean that our community has given my son a fighting chance.
The doctors can do all they can do but if we aren’t in a position to pay for it then Kevin simply can’t get it. People in Newport have been so giving and so loving so far and we would be lost without them.
