Local woman 'overwhelmed' by public donations for son's medical treatment

A local mother who set up a GoFundMe page to try and raise €250,000 for a clinical trial for a vaccine for Neuroblastoma for her nine-year-old son has said she is “overwhelmed” by the support so far.

Aoife Belton (née Mannion) from Hill of Berries, Kiltoom, said: “It's unbelievable. People have been so kind. Behind the scenes a lot of fundraising is going on as well.”

To date over €188,000 has been raised for the GoFundMe campaign for Joseph Belton (9), son of Aoife and Michael Belton. Joseph was diagnosed with high-risk Neuroblastoma in September 2021. The family is now fundraising for him to be accepted on a clinical trial for a vaccine for Neuroblastoma in the world renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.

His mother described Joseph as a very relaxed, cool character. He is in third class in St Coman's Wood Primary School in Roscommon and loves all things sports especially Gaelic and hurling with his beloved club Roscommon Gaels. He also enjoys soccer with Roscommon Town FC and is an avid supporter of Roscommon GAA and Liverpool FC.

Joseph has stage four Neuroblastoma and Aoife said: “It's a very aggressive treatment plan he's gone through.”

To date Joseph has endured surgery to remove the tumour and his adrenal gland, insertion of a central line in his chest, six months of chemotherapy, daily injections, high dose chemotherapy followed by two stem cell transplants which included nine weeks in isolation, 14 rounds of radiotherapy, four of five immunotherapy treatments, multiple bone marrow aspirates and blood transfusions not forgetting countless hospital admissions, numerous scans, insertion of a feeding tube and daily medication.

During the isolation, Joseph could not spend time with his twin Cillian and they would meet through a window. Aoife said that was probably the toughest part of the experience. “It was so difficult, one of us at all times was in Crumlin. Cillian was totally left out of the loop.”

Joseph couldn't go to school during the Covid-10 pandemic which Aoife said was an extra worry. “There was extra pressure on us to mind him. All the sports and activities he loved were no longer an option for him and instead numerous hospital trips and gruelling treatments became the norm.”

Joseph has just finished his fourth round of immunotherapy and if the next scan is clear Joseph will be able to travel to New York for treatment. He has responded well to treatment so far and is now nearing the end of his frontline treatment in Crumlin Hospital.

“Joseph will complete his treatment this April in Crumlin hospital and we are hoping and praying that his end-of-treatment scans will remain clear and he will be in remission. We've been chatting to people who had the same transfer as Joseph and it went well. We want to do the best we can for Joseph.”

Aoife added: “Neuroblastoma unfortunately has a high rate of relapse and if this should happen prognosis is poor. It is essential that we get to New York to give Joseph the best possible chance of beating cancer for good."

The bivalent vaccine is the only paediatric tumour vaccine in the world. It works by targeting two proteins found on neuroblastoma cells: GD2L and GD3L. Aoife said: “The costs are huge which is why we decided to put up a GoFundMe. It's €200,000 up front and then scans and vaccines for three years. We'll be over and back to New York.”

Aoife said that Joseph has been through hell and back but the Roscommon football team asked him to come out on the pitch with the football during an Allianz Football League match recently. “That lifted his spirits. We just can't get over peoples' generosity and kindness. It's overwhelming. Everyone just totally got behind us.”

Aoife is the daughter of Liam and Noreen Mannion from Kiltoom, and she has been based in Roscommon town since 2010.

A five/ten kilometre walk or run will take place on St Patrick's Day starting at 11am from Hannon's Hotel in Roscommon town as part of the GoFundMe fundraising efforts. For further information contact Joan Moore on 087 9201818 or Frank Murphy, Roscommon Harriers on 086 1605075.

The GoFundMe has raised over €188,000 to date but the goal figure is €250,000. Anyone interested in donating to the fundraiser can do so by searching 'Joseph’s Journey' on gofundme.com.