Chris's Long Covid medical treatment

In November of 2022, Chris' world began to crash around him when he first contracted covid. He thought it had passed but after months of symptoms, he realised and was diagnosed with long covid. An extremely debilitating, cruel and misunderstood condition.

Chris' life has changed completely, work life, love life, social life. A man who would drag 30 lads around on a 6-hour hike now struggles to get up his own stairs and is frequently bedridden due to chronic pain. Chris has been fighting the good fight over the last year but options for treatment are little to zero here in Ireland and he has been under immense financial strain not just to pay for expensive treatment but even to fund his own day-to-day living expenses. He can't work, social support is inadequate and in no way could cover a fraction of the treatment he needs. Due to his condition, he cannot even avail of finance from the banks.

A message from Cormac;

I first met Chris in January 2020 at my first hike with the Dublin Boys Club men's group of which Chris has been a core member. Chris was doing the rounds that day, making people feel welcome, explaining the virtues of what a men's group could be and generally being sound. Meeting Chris over the next few hikes, for people who were interested he would share other stuff about wellness and mental health. It helped a lot of guys who were just up for a hike to explore other routes to healing and freeing the mind up from anxiety, myself included.

Over the next few months, Chris led multiple hikes, meditation sessions and was a great all-round support for all the Dublin Boys Club.

Over time Chris and I became great friends, getting to know Chris I discovered most of his professional life and personal life has been dedicated to helping people. Helping people with their physical and mental health through yoga and meditation, helping people manage a healthy work-life in a professional capacity, helping his community through the 101 activities he's been involved in, (I’m not sure his contribution to belly dancing in Dublin has been significantly impactful) and of course his years spent volunteering around the world and working for various NGOs.

He is one of the most globally conscious people I have ever met, he loves people and animals and has rallied behind endless injustices, inequalities and in the name of the oppressed.

Chris has been a huge support, cheerleader and friend to many people over the years. He has spent his whole life helping others now Chris needs your help!

Chris’ Treatment:

Chris is starting a new evidence-based treatment in the UK in April. Estimated costs for the next 12 months of €17,000;

Medical consultation: €3,000

Various medical diagnostics: €8,000

12 months of medication: €4,000

Therapy interventions (psychotherapy and physiotherapy): €1,000

Travel and accommodation in UK: €1,000

These are just some of the concrete costs Chris will incur over the next 12 months but there are still multiple variable rehabilitation and living costs Chris needs assistance with and potentially beyond 12 months.

Please donate what you can.

Thank you on behalf of Chris and all his friends.

Some more info on Chris;

Irish Independent article profiling Chris (April 2023) - https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/health-features/long-covid-i-used-to-get-up-at-5am-to-exercise-now-i-use-a-mobility-scooter/a386989067.html

Article written by Chris on a day in the life with his Long Covid (Nov 2023)

https://medium.com/@chris-flack/every-day-i-stand-with-hands-on-hips-listen-to-the-wonder-woman-theme-and-tears-flow-my-long-e467e82e4100

About the Dublin Boys Club;

The Dublin Boys Club is a nomadic men's group exploring healthy masculinity. Where men can learn to communicate better with each other and grow into the most authentic versions of themselves.

Originally hosted in Berlin by Conor Creighton, this idea has been brought to Dublin in partnership with Atelier Now - the creative studio of internationally acclaimed artist, Maser.

The club was originally established in response to rising suicide levels, anxiety and depression among men. The club has taken place in prisons, schools, homes, storage containers, bars and bedrooms, in Los Angeles, New York, Limerick, the Mojave Desert, and wherever there are men. More at; https://www.thedublinboysclub.com/