AN APPEAL IS being made on behalf of a five-year-old boy who is battling cancer for the second time in his life.
Max Birmingham from Longford was recently diagnosed for the second time in his life with stage four neuroblastoma cancer. His family aren’t asking for money, however. They’re asking for wrestling memorabilia.
“Mighty Max” is WWE-mad, his mother Cathy, told Low Blows, an Irish-based wrestling podcast.
“Wrestling is his big thing that’s all he talks about. He’d call you over to the trampoline to give you a hug and then he’d shout “RKO!”.
“He was limping after his second birthday, so I brought him to the doctor. He had a tumour on his adrenal gland, but it’s a cancer of the bones and bone marrow.
“He had chemo and radiotherapy and stem cell therapy and six months of therapy.”
After 18 months of treatment, Max was given the all-clear in September 2013. However, two weeks ago, his family were told that the cancer had returned.
Cathy says that this is a “completely different journey”, but that Max is keeping his spirits high.
“He’s a happy little boy, I do everything I can.”
Cathy says that advancements in treatment of the cancer has advanced to such a point that it makes it “the best outcome of a bad situation”.
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Because of Max’s fascination with wrestling, Cathy posted on her Facebook page asking for any spare memorabilia that people could give while Max is in treatment.
That post was shared across the social network, ending up with Rick Nash of Low Blows, who organise wrestling viewing parties in Dublin.
At their upcoming event to screen WWE’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view in Dublin’s Woolshed (tickets €8.50), the organisers will collect memorabilia for Max, which will then be delivered to him.
Nash hopes wrestling fans will give generously.
“Max and his family aren’t looking for money, just toys that people already have and can afford to give away. It’s something so small for people, but it’d make a huge difference.”
Anyone who has memorabilia but can’t make the party can send it to TheJournal.ie, Golden Lane, Dublin 8.
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