Emotional handover of €23,000 donations in Laois teen's memory

Two huge cheques have been gifted to help sick children in hospital in Laois and Dublin, in memory of a beloved Mountmellick boy.

Eoin Coss, who was full of promising sport talent, passed away aged 14, peacefully at home with his family in 2022, 10 months after a shock cancer diagnosis. His memory lives on through a touching fundraiser, called Eoin's Journey.

It is two years since Eoin's heartbroken mam Martina Dunne and big brothers Darragh and Rian launched Eoin's Journey, designing special jerseys with 'forever 14 Eoin' on the back, printed locally by Darren Strong of DS Sports, Emo.

The family's request to people was to buy them and wear them on holidays. The aim was to fulfil Eoin's dream to travel the world.

Half of the jersey's price was to go to charities, split between the Giggle fund for child patients in St John's Ward in Crumlin children's hospital, and the Paediatrics Unit in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, two places where Eoin had received great care.

The Eoin's Journey project struck a chord with the community and it took off, with about 1,000 jerseys bought since then.

Supporters send Martina their holiday photos from near and far, which she shares on her own social media pages.

A couple on honeymoon with Eoin's jersey. 

Recently Martina, Rian and Darragh presented two cheques of €11,500 each to each hospital. While the jerseys are still on sale, it marks an emotional milestone for the family.

Martina spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live this week.

“They were emotional occasions, it was hard being back in St John's Ward. A parent I had met was there and while she was upset she thanked me for never forgetting them. I will never forget the kids that are battling this horrendous disease,” Martina said.

It had been a difficult week she said, as her son Rian and his partner flew off to live in Australia.

“Rian and Orla are living out Eoin's dream of travelling to Australia. I miss Rian so much but it's a different missing. I'm talking to him through calls and messages. I can't talk to Eoin.

“The house feels too big now but we feel Eoin in every crevice of it. It will always be home for Rian and Darragh, all Eoin's memories are here,” she said.

The family also donated €500 in vouchers last Christmas to LauraLynn children's hospice for families who are struggling.

“We were so thankful, without Laura Lynn and the nurses and people who gave up their time, Eoin wouldn't have got to be at home for his last few days,” Martina said.

It is an immeasurable comfort to the family to see the photos of people wearing Eoin's jersey.

Eoin's Journey supporters taking his jersey on holidays to the Grand Canyon, to Galway, and on a gondola ride in Venice.

“This whole thing was for me to keep Eoin's memory alive. When somebody puts on Eoin's jersey, if it means they only think about him or a second, or an hour, he is thought of every time a jersey is worn.

“Let that be in Africa or just in Mountmellick or Portlaoise, wherever. It mean's so much that Eoin's memory lives on through the jersey,” she said.

Martina described the care Eoin got in paediatrics in Portlaoise.

“I couldn't even describe the support he got, that we got. They gave us menus for all our meals and even made up plates of sandwiches if we got peckish at night. Rian and Darragh were able to go have showers. It meant that we spent all our time there without worrying.

“The day of the really bad scan results, the doctor in Crumlin asked me if I wanted Eoin to go back there, I ran everything by Eoin and we said no, he is being looked after in Portlaoise, he's close to home.

“He was there for seven nights before we got him home for his last three nights," his grateful mother said.

Rian, Martina and Darragh handing over the Eoin's Journey cheque to staff in paeds in MRH Portlaoise recently. 

“Crumlin were amazing, they did everything they could for him. From doctors to the cleaners, all amazing,” Eoin's mother said.

Martina describes Eoin as an “all-rounder”, talented at sport, a great personality, and an amazing brother, son, friend, and grandson.

“The legacy he left behind is testament to the young man he was. He was so amazing throughout his whole illness. He always said he was grand. He was so strong. One day he asked me if he was going to die, I was in bits and he didn't even cry. He said 'you know I won't be afraid ma, it will be just like that lovely sleep when I go into theatre,” she said.

He played a special song for her, with the lyrics 'make me a rainbow to shine down on my mother so she knows she's protected when she stands under my colours'.

“At that part he said to me 'you know there'll always be a rainbow'”, she said.

The family handing over their second fundraised cheque of €11,500 to staff in Crumlin children's hospital. 

Martina has turned her focus now on raising money for the Cuisle Centre in Portlaoise, which gives free care to local people and their families affected by cancer, with lots of individual events all still under the banner Eoin's Journey.

“My partner offered a load of blocks. We did a lotto before Christmas raising €1200. Two of Rian's friends ran the Streets of Portlaoise and raised €1,000, Marie Guilfoyle and Yasmin made a gingerbread house and raised €250. So we are about €3,500 for the Cuisle Centre. If any more jerseys sell it will go to that. I'm toying with more fundraising ideas,” she said.

Again it is in thanks for support she got.

“I had counselling every week in the Cuisle Centre for five or six weeks, I had reiki. They were an amazing support. They said 'we are always here for you, for Rian, for Darragh, just pick up the phone'.

“It is free and that's why I chose them as the next charity. So many people don't know about it or don't know its for people who have lost somebody.”

The late Eoin Coss during his battle with cancer, pictured with his mother and brothers. 

Martina sums up her thanks to everyone for their support of Eoin's Journey.

“It's hard to put into words how grateful I am to everybody who supported Eoin's Journey, myself Rian and Darragh put our all into this, the three of us only. We took it on, with a bit of fear these jersey's wouldn't sell, when we released the video. I never in a million years thought it would be as big as it is.

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“We will never have the words to thanks people. To say what it means to us that Eoin's memory lives on through all the wonderful people who supported us. For that we will be forever eternally grateful. That my son, their brother is still in the forefront of people's minds. It is another level of thankfulness.

“It's bittersweet. Bitter to have lost Eoin but so nice his memory lives on. I promised him that,” Martina said.

To offer fundraising support, contact Martina Dunne on her social media or on 086 1079438. Order a Eoin's Journey jersey via DS Sports online.