Soccer Writers Ireland Banquet fundraiser raises over €4.9k for Children's Health Foundation

Soccer Writers Ireland were delighted to present the Children's Health Foundation with a cheque for €4,936.28 this week, with the money raised by all those who attended the SWI's annual awards banquet in January.

The initiative was undertaken following news last year that Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley's son Josh had been diagnosed with Acute lymphocytic leukaemia.

Josh received treatment at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin) and Bradley spoke this week about his gratitude to all the staff who have aided his son's recovery in recent months.

"Everyone obviously knows about Crumlin children's hospital and sees it and drives by it and would have heard stories about it, but until you actually really need them, and where you're in there on a daily basis, you don't really see the good work that gets done and the incredible people that are in there," he told SoccerWritersIreland.ie.

"They've helped me, my family and Josh through the first seven or eight months of a serious illness and they've been incredible for us.

"They're special people. People talk about superheroes -- when you're in that hospital, you see the real-life ones."

Bradley also thanked SWI and all those within the football community who had raised money and shown support since the news emerged.

"The support that we've had has been incredible from everyone involved in Irish football throughout the country -- fans from other clubs, contacting us, sending letters, donating from up and down the country, it's been incredible.

"And as a family, we genuinely can't thank them enough and are grateful for the support and well wishes because when we're going through something like we're going through, it's all those well wishes and people saying prayers that really helps."

The Shamrock Rovers boss, a two-time Men's Personality of the Year winner, added that his son's diagnosis had put everything, football included, into perspective.

"For me, before this happened, football was the only thing that really mattered in terms of your whole life being geared towards a result on Friday night. All you think about is winning and improving.

He added: "But when something like this happens, it really checks you in your stride and it makes you realise there are things that are more important in life than sport and football.

"So it does really make you take stock, and take a step back and look at what's really important. But I'm very lucky to be in the position I'm in because, without that position, we wouldn't have had the support that we've had as a family."

Community Engagement Executive with the Children's Health Foundation, Louisa Kennedy, added: "With the Children's Health Foundation, we aim to give every sick child the best chance.

"The key is that we have incredible healthcare staff across the CHI (Children's Health Ireland) hospitals and urgent care centres.

"And we are there to help them get the best tools they can for their jobs. We fundraise in terms of machinery, in terms of funds to support the children and families on the ground.

"The funds that have been raised from the Soccer Writers Ireland Banquet will go directly to the hospitals, to care for the sick children. That will go into purchasing new equipment and anything on the ground that they need vitally.

"So events like the Soccer Writers Ireland Banquet are really important. It's the people on the ground who are fundraising and making a difference in the hospitals that are key. We can only do so much on our side, we are basically the facilitators to make the real work happen on the hospital side. Every event, big or small, is so important to the children and to the level of care and quality that they can receive in the hospitals."

Those wishing to find out more about how to fundraise or contribute in any way can do so by visiting childrenshealth.ie.