Support Mark’s family through his recovery

Hi, my name is Isaac Finken and I’m setting up this gofundmepage for my best friend, Mark Moriyama.

Mark is a fantastic husband to his wonderful wife Aoife, and father to their two gorgeous children Elayna (3) and Luca (9 months), I’m setting this fundraiser up to provide support for their young family at a very difficult time.

Last Saturday, 4th January 2025, Mark was involved in a terrible accident. He was shutting the boot of his car when the auto brakes released and the car rolled back, pushing Mark backwards and crushing him into a concrete wall just outside their house in Ballydehob, West Cork.

Mark’s entire right rib cage was smashed, his lung was punctured. Owing to the quick actions of his wife Aoife, he was airlifted from Ballydehob Community Hall pitch, to CUH, where both lungs collapsed and he was put into an induced coma. Thankfully and owing to the excellent medical care he received, Mark squeezed Aoife’s hand 3 days ago and then yesterday, he managed to wake up.

To give people an idea about the type of person Mark is, he is possibly the most vivacious, active and fit person I’ve ever had the luck to meet, let alone call friend. We work together in martial arts, in stunt work and doing gymnastics but he’s at his most playful when on the floor with his two adorable children. His kind, fun, youthful personality and wicked sense of humour has made a positive impact on everyone he’s met. He’s incredibly fit, both mentally and physically and I know that that is the thing that will help get him through this difficult time.

The good news is, that Mark will be ok, we all know it could have been much worse, but doctors have advised a long road to recovery for Mark of more than 10 months.

Aoife’s friends are currently looking after their young children as Aoife is by his side in hospital, but Mark is a self-employed wedding videographer and I know that the financial pressure the family will be under now that he is incapacitated, will be enormous. I’d like to alleviate some of that stress, if I could. Theirs is a single income household and I want to set up a gofundme page to help out with household bills and rehabilitation costs, whilst Mark is working on his recovery.

I know it’s a tough time of year for everyone so if you’re not able to give anything right now, maybe you might be able to share with someone who could.

If you are able to donate, any amount you can give, big or small, would be sincerely and most graciously appreciated.

Thank you for reading and thank you in advance for your support

Update 16/01/25

Hi there,

It's been almost a week since I first posted about Mark and the accident and so I just wanted to get on to give an update on his current situation.

Firstly, can I just say that we have been blown away by the level of support you have given, this generosity has meant so much and I cannot overstate the effect that kindness has had on Mark and those closest to him. It's a real testament to the kind of guy Mark is, to see that the positive energy he puts out into the world has come back to him full force and for those closest to him, to know that he's so fondly thought of, is both comforting, and fortifying. So a huge thank you to everyone who has donated, or shared his story or sent messages of support, it has meant the world.

Mark is a real ninja, making a little progress each and every day. He has been moved from the ICU to the high dependency ward, taken off the ventilator and has had three chest drains removed so far. We're so proud of him. I suppose the best news is that he is able to communicate and has even been cracking jokes, well, attempting to crack jokes (anyone who knows Mark knows about his weird sense of humour. For instance, he was terribly disappointed to learn that there are no photos of him on the stretcher before being airlifted to CUH!) ;-)

It is this Mark, the positive Mark, the cheeky Mark, the indefatigable Mark, he's the guy who has woken up and come back to us and we just can't thank you enough for all the support you've shown him so far, we feel very positive about the future and his recovery.

Onwards and upwards x

Isaac Finken on behalf of Aoife O'Leary