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Help Daniel Fight for His Life So He Can Watch His Sons Grow

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Hi, my name is Daniel Mooney, and I’m a 37-year-old husband and father of two beautiful boys, Cian (3) and Darragh (1). My wonderful wife, Emma, and I had just embarked on what we thought was going to be the beginning of a peaceful, joyful new chapter in our lives. Having just moved into our forever home in the countryside of Kildare.

But life had other plans:
In May 2024, I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumours (DSRCT). It’s so rare that only about 30 cases are reported worldwide each year. By the time the tumour was found, the cancer was stage 4 and it had spread aggressively in my abdomen and pelvis. My survival chances were slim without immediate and specialised treatment.

Despite the devastating diagnosis, my focus has never wavered: I need to fight for my family, especially my boys. I want to be there to watch them grow, to guide them, and to create memories that will last a lifetime. The thought of them not remembering me is unbearable. I want to live for them!

My Journey So Far:
Since the diagnosis, I’ve endured nine gruelling rounds of chemotherapy, and the results have been nothing short of miraculous. The largest tumour has shrunk from 25 cm to 8.4 cm, and the cancer has stayed contained within my abdomen. But the treatment has come at a cost—my body is exhausted. I’ve battled severe bone marrow suppression and survived two life-threatening bouts of sepsis.

On February the 17th I will be undergoing major surgery to remove the known cancer sites, but unfortunately, this will not be a curative procedure—its goal is only to give me more time. Beyond this, I need further specialised and aggressive treatment, which could offer me a better chance of keeping the disease at bay.

There Is Hope
The Cleveland Clinic in the USA is a world leader in treating DSRCT. Doctors Pete Anderson, Dan Joyce, and Erin Murphy have treated over 100 cases and are pioneering cutting-edge treatment protocols for this rare disease including an immunotherapy vaccine that could change everything for me.

This team offers me the best chance to survive and return home to my family. But the costs are staggering.

What Your Support Means
We’re raising funds to cover the overwhelming costs of treatment including medical care, travel, related expenses, and essential diagnostic procedures like DNA sequencing. Unfortunately, there is a significant gap between the total cost and what we can afford, leaving us facing an immense financial burden.

Beyond medical expenses, your support will also help provide stability for our family during this incredibly difficult time. This journey not only brings emotional challenges but also financial strain, affecting everyday living costs, childcare, and the ability to maintain a sense of normalcy for our children. Your generosity will allow us to focus on accessing the best possible care while ensuring our family remains supported and secure throughout this fight.

Time is critical. The window between surgery and requiring follow up treatment is small, and every day counts.

Our Goal: €211,600

Every donation, no matter the size, will bring us closer to the treatment I so desperately need.

How You Can Help

If you can, please consider:
  • Donating—every euro makes a difference.
  • Sharing my story with your friends and family.

Your generosity means everything to us. Together, we can give my boys a future with their dad and bring hope back into our lives. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us.

Thanks,
Daniel Mooney
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Fundraising team: Fundraiser Team (1)

Daniel Mooney
Organizer
Emma Mooney
Team member

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