Hello, my name is Gavin Reilly. I am a 23-year-old from a small town in Kildare called Rathcoffey, and I’m starting this fundraiser to support awareness and research for rare cancers. My journey began in a way I never expected, and I want to use my experience to make sure others don’t have to face the same fear, confusion, and isolation that I did.

In October 2024, after months of feeling unwell, I found myself going in and out of my GP with no clear answers. As things progressed, I was eventually referred for a full-body assessment in the Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin on December 17th, 2024. After several blood tests and scans, doctors discovered a mass in my liver.

A biopsy later confirmed the one sentence nobody ever wants to hear, it was cancerous.

Not just any cancer — a cancer so rare that only one or two people in Ireland are diagnosed with it each year, typically affecting young adults aged 20 to 35. The tumour in my liver measured 18 cm by 6 cm, nearly the size of half my liver.

A few weeks later, my family and I met with my surgeon, who explained that the best option for this cancer was aggressive surgery. Two weeks after that appointment, I underwent major surgery where half of my liver, my gallbladder, and three lymph nodes were removed. I spent one day in ICU, three days in a high dependency ward, and three more in a general ward recovering.

Despite a successful operation, the cancer had already spread to one lymph node, meaning chemotherapy was the next unavoidable step.

Being 22 at the time, it was incredibly difficult to accept what lay ahead — but I didn’t have a choice.

I began intense chemotherapy every second Wednesday for six months, completing twelve rounds in total. It was the hardest challenge of my life — physically, mentally, and emotionally. On September 10th, 2025, I completed my final round of IV chemo. I now continue treatment through chemotherapy tablets, with monthly blood tests and scans every three months.

I will forever be grateful to the doctors, nurses, specialists, and every member of staff who cared for me along the way. Their compassion made a devastating experience more bearable for both me and my family.

Living through this has inspired me to create this fundraising campaign.

Many people don’t know the symptoms or how quickly things can change. I want to help fix that. I want to help people recognise early warning signs, understand the importance of regular checkups, and know that they’re never alone in what they’re going through.

Through this fundraiser and the movement I’m building — RTR: Rare to Real — my goal is to:

Raise awareness for rare cancers alongside well known cancers

Promote early detection and symptom recognition

Support research into rare cancer treatments and causes

Create a safe space for others affected by cancer

Make rare cancers real in the eyes of the world

All money raised will be split between the Irish Cancer Society and Breakthrough Cancer Research, two organisations doing incredible work to improve treatment options, support families, and push for better futures for people living with cancer.

I know that any goal we set can be reached — because anything is possible when people come together with hope, purpose, and determination. My journey has taught me that strength appears in the most unexpected moments, and that communities have the power to change lives.

Thank you so much for reading, for supporting, and for helping me turn a painful chapter of my life into something that may one day protect or save someone else’s.

Gavin Reilly

I’ve included a video below, where I talk openly and honestly about my experience in depth. I share what happened, how it felt, and why Rare to Real means so much to me. I hope my story helps others feel understood, supported, and a little less alone.

Rare To Real Campaign Video