Little Maddie Caulfield (daughter to Jessie & Don Caulfield) , from Ballinasloe, Co Galway was due to start Junior Infants this September. Instead, her family’s world has been turned upside down by the devastating news that Maddie has been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour.

Maddie is the happiest, sweetest little girl, and anyone who knows her knows how much joy she brings to her family. She loves being outside, playing with her brother and three sisters, riding her scooter and watching Peppa Pig. While she should be worrying about which colour crayon to use and playing with her dolls, Maddie is about to begin an incredibly difficult journey.

This means months of hospital appointments, travelling, overnight stays and treatment, whilst trying to keep life as normal as possible for Maddie and her four siblings. From late September, Maddie will travel to Manchester for six weeks of proton radiotherapy. She will need 30 sessions, each under general anaesthetic. This will be followed with up to nine months of chemotherapy in Crumlin.

For her parents, the practical and financial impact alone will be enormous. The challenge of accommodation and travel expenses is a burden that they should not have to carry.

While we cannot make Maddie’s treatment journey easier medically, we can help take away some of the financial worry. We want Maddie’s parents to be able to concentrate on what matters most… being there for their little girl. Most of all we want Maddie to get through this and get back to being her funny, loving, mischievous self, eating pancakes and Nutella sandwiches.

We are hoping to raise funds to help erase some of the pressure over the coming year. If you are able to donate, every single contribution will make a difference and if you cannot donate, please don’t worry. Sharing Maddie’s story and keeping her in your thoughts and prayers means more than we can say.