Fundraiser taking place in The Curragh Camp on Friday to help get brave Odhrán (3) to France for cancer treatment

By Kim O'Leary This Friday a very special fundraising event will take place at The Mess in The Curragh Camp, Kildare, in aid of 3-year-old Odhrán Staunton Doherty who requires cancer treatment in France. Brave Odhrán is fighting bladder cancer and he is the second youngest in the family with four siblings Sean, Cody, Kaiden and Holly, and his parents Conor and Ebony. Odhrán’s grandfather, army veteran Paul Staunton, is organising this Friday’s event with prizes to be won on the night. Odhrán was diagnosed with cancer at the age of two after doctors initially dismissed his symptoms as a kidney infection. This month Odhrán will have to undergo two operations as part of specialised treatment in France at two separate hospitals, and the family may be in France for several months as Odhrán recuperates from his surgeries. Giving an update to KildareNow this week, Paul explained: “Odhrán had to go into hospital last weekend because of a temperature but we’re hoping he will be discharged in time for the event at the Curragh Camp on Friday. There was meant to be a performance at Whitewater from some of my musician friends, but we’ve decided to cancel it because they wanted to do it for free and it wouldn’t be fair to them on a Friday after work, I don’t want to do anyone out of a wage.” His grandfather said:“So the fundraising event is taking place in The Mess at The Curragh Camp on Friday night, we’ve gotten presents from Dunnes and Tesco and a local jeweller and pharmacies, as well as €1,500 worth of electrical goods which will all be auctioned off on the night.” Meanwhile, there will also be a ‘Swimaton’ at the Curragh Military Swimming Pool on Thursday 7 February from 2pm to 4pm. Paul said that the family’s fundraising efforts are doing well and that they have so fair raised over €15,000 to help pay for Odhrán and his family to go to France on February 16. Anyone wishing to donate can visit the GoFundMe page.