Transplant fundraiser to save Jim's life to take place in Westport

A FUNDRAISING night in aid of well-known Bekan man, Jim Duggan, who is currently in New York undergoing preparatory examinations ahead of a proposed life-saving transplant operation, will take place this Sunday in the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport.

Jim was diagnosed with Leukaemia in May 2022 and despite receiving a bone marrow transplant in September 2022, he was informed in July that he had three months to live and to go home and get his affairs in order as there was no chance of getting a second transplant in Ireland.

The married father of three children has been given a lifeline when he travelled to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York for treatment and was informed he had three suitable bone marrow donors.

However, the family were informed they need to be in a position to pay upfront for the bone marrow transplant which is estimated to cost between $1.3m and $2.2m.

As a result his family launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds for substantial costs involved in the procedure and this Sunday they will host a charity night in The Castlecourt Hotel in Westport. Jim's daughter, Corina Cunningham, who has resided in New York for the last five years, outlined the urgency of the treatment.
“Jim was diagnosed with Leukaemia in May 2022 and started treatment in June 2022 in preparation for a bone marrow transplant. Jim received a bone marrow transplant in September 2022 in Ireland.
“It seemed like everything was going to plan until Jim's results suddenly changed. At the start of July, out of nowhere, his doctor brought him into a room alone and told Jim he had three months to live, to go home and get his affairs in order. The medical team also told him there was no chance of doing a second transplant in Ireland.
“As you can imagine, Jim was heartbroken, as was his wife Bridie and three children, Tommy, Corina and Paul and his brothers and sisters. Jim said, “This was the hardest thing to hear, not just because I wouldn’t be around anymore, but rather because I was leaving my family and friends behind.
“The treatment is for Leukaemia, a cancer of your white blood cells and bone marrow. Bone Marrow is the place where blood cells are made in your body. With Leukaemia, immature blood cells divide quickly and do not grow into mature cells. These immature cells crowd your Bone Marrow and prevent it from making normal healthy cells, bringing me to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.
“But like anything, this treatment is expensive, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center requires payment of their medical bills before Jim can start the treatment.
“Jim has asked me to set up the GoFundMe page to help us get started and give Jim the best chance of receiving the best care and chance of beating this cancer. I will be paying the medical bills on his behalf directly to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as I am resident in the US. Jim will be living with me while receiving his care.
“Every donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you to all of the Duggan and Heneghan family and friends who have donated already and continue to support us at this time,” says Corina.

The family explained that ideally the transplant operation in New York should take place within one month, whilst there is no cancer in Jim’s bone marrow following the successful chemotherapy. However this is a temporary scenario as the cancer will return unless the transplant takes place. The doctors at MSKCC have estimated that this transplant should increase Jim’s life expectancy by 25 years.

As well as the cost of the transplant operation, Jim’s family have already paid around €600,000 of their own money to the hospital and there is approximately $325,000 still owing to the hospital.

“The family simply cannot pay any more, this cost is out of their reach - as it would be for almost anyone in this unfortunate position. So, they now need to fundraise a minimum of $1.6m to save Jim’s life- as he will die if he does not receive a bone marrow transplant,” a spokesperson for the family stated.

A fundraising campaign 'A Lifeline for Jim' has been set up to raise as much money as possible with the charity night in The Castlecourt Hotel on Sunday, September 3 among the events to take place. A 'Mega Draw' will take place on the night with prizes including vouchers worth €1,000 each for the Westport Hotel (Castlecourt) Group; Broderick Electrical; Delaney's Hardware Ballyhaunis; PJ Kelly Homevalue and a One for all voucher.

Several retailers across the county are selling tickets for us but they can also be purchased online via https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/ALifelineforJimmegaRaffle.

The link to the GoFundMe page for those who wish to donate is https://gofund.me/440435f6.