Hi there!

My name is Kathryn Sullivan and I play with the Mayo ladies and Castlebar Mitchels. This year I have decided to get involved with the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon in aid of Auryns’s Heroes and I am delighted to share Auryn’s story and raise funds for this very worthy cause.

In May 2019, Auryn, at the young age of 4, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer. Since then Auryn has gone through 13 rounds of chemotherapy, 2 stem cells transplants, two major surgeries, 14 rounds of radiotherapy and multiple other medicinal procedures. He is still receiving treatment in Crumlin and will do so until the end of this year. He has missed out on so much in the last 15 months - whilst the country went into lockdown in March 2020, Auryn has endured his own lockdown since May 2019. His immune system was so compromised from all the treatment that he he could not go to school, or have play dates with his friends or do any of the simple things that children love to do. 

This cancer that Auryn has is an unpredictable, unrelenting beast - a ticking time bomb that in most cases will return, even after all the treatment Aurynhas endured. BUT there is a vaccine in New York that can help stop it coming back and Auryn’s family have set up a campaign called Auryn’s Heroes to raise the €375k required for the medical costs. This treatment is years, if not months off becoming available in Europe but Auryn cannot wait that long and therefore the family have no option but to travel in early 2021 to get Auryn this life saving medication. 

I am delighted to participate in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon 2020 and to raise funds in aid of Auryn’s Heroes and I am urging as many other women to also get involved and do the same. Auryns parents have set up a website called www.aurynsheroes.ie where you can read Auryns full story and information about the GoFundMe and fundraising campaign. Please support me in my efforts and/or donate directly to the campaign. Please be Hero for Auryn - and help give him back a normal childhood! Best of luck to all the wonderful ladies participating this year for all the worthy causes! 

www.aurynsheroes.ie