Huge response to fundraiser for Bealnamulla couple

A fundraising drive to assist a Bealnamulla couple who are facing major health issues has raised €20,000 in less than 24 hours.

The iDonate fundraiser was set up by Timmy Doyle from Brideswell, a lifelong friend of 53-year-old Gerry Collins from Rooskey, Bealnamulla, who overcame a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2019 before it returned in his lungs and bones.

A second cancer diagnosis hit the Collins family just before Christmas when Gerry's wife, Denise (48) was rushed to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe and then to St James's Hospital in Dublin where she was diagnosed with a stomach tumour which will require chemotherapy treatment and surgery.

In fact, both Denise and Gerry Collins ended up spending Christmas in hospital and away from their three children, Zoe (17), Mia (11) and Jay (10). While his wife was hospitalised over the festive period, Gerry was also rushed to hospital when he developed a clot in his lung.

“It's such a shocking situation to see both parents battling such serious health issues” said family friend Timmy Doyle, who explained that he decided to set up a fundraiser for the Collins family after he discovered that no fundraising event had been organised.

Having been approved by the Collins family, the iDonate fundraiser, called 'Friends of Denise and Gerry' went live on Bank Holiday Monday this week, and within 24 hours it had raised €20,000 of its €50,000 target.

“The family are just blown away by the generosity of people,” says St Brigid's GAA clubman Timmy Doyle, who added that both Gerry and Denise wish to acknowledge the “tremendous support” they and their three children have received from family, friends and neighbours since Gerry's initial cancer diagnosis in 2019.

As the main breadwinner in the Collins home, Gerry's illness forced him to give up his job three years ago with local builder Ollie Kenny, where he worked as a fitter, and he is currently on medication and under hospital supervision. He underwent a hip operation last year as part of his treatment.

Despite the devastating health battle ahead for Denise and Gerry Collins, their main priority, according to Timmy Doyle, is to “try to keep home life as normal as possible” for their three children, with Gerry, who is a native of Lisbrock, Brideswell, still managing to drop the children to school every morning.

Zoe is a 5th year student at Coláiste Chiaráin in Summerhill, while Mia and Jay are in 5th and 4th classes respectively at Cloonakilla National School.

Denise Collins, who hails from Cornaseer, Kiltoom, returned home from hospital only in recent days and will initially undergo a course of chemotherapy for her stomach tumour, while her husband is receiving on-going treatment for his cancer.

The iDonate fundraiser for Denise and Gerry Collins is designed to ease the financial burden on the family and allow them to concentrate on fighting the tough health battle ahead for both parents, according to Timmy Doyle, who acknowledged the assistance of local GAA clubs, St Brigid's and Clann na nGael, in getting behind the fundraiser and helping to raise awareness across social media.

“No family ever wants to find themselves in the situation that Denise and Gerry Collins are currently in, so we are determined to do all we can with this fundraiser to help them in any small way we can” said Timmy Doyle.

Donations to the 'Friends of Denise and Gerry' idonate fundraising page can be made at: https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/SupportDeniseGerryCollins