Eddie's darts fund-raiser raises over €3,400 for Tullamore Hospital's oncology unit

A MAJOR fund-raiser undertaken by a local man battling lung cancer has raised a whopping €3,424 for the oncology unit at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

Darts enthusiast, Eddie Lennon, ably assisted by his wife, Breda, and close family friend, Laura Smollen, brought darts champion, Simon Whitlock to Tullamore where he gave an exhibition at the Goalpost public house in Tullamore.

Goalpost proprietor, Darren Sheridan, was also a key member of the organising team, and the darts exhibition attracted a large crowd to the Goalpost on Monday night week last.

As well as displaying his skills, Simon Whitlock – who is known as the Wizard of Oz – played 24 local players with only one, Dinny Martin, managing to beat the Australian.

Simon was accompanied by his son, Mason, an up and coming talent on the international darts stage in the UK and elsewhere.

Eddie Lennon, accompanied by Laura Smollen and Darren Sheridan, presented the cheque for €3,424 to Anne Mangan and the team at the oncology unit in Tullamore Hospital on Monday afternoon last.

Speaking to the Tribune afterwards, Eddie said he had been inspired to spearhead the fundraiser following his own experiences after being diagnosed with lung cancer last July.

He was spurred to action by the treatment he has received in the oncology unit and that which his best friend, the late Cllr Ken Smollen – brother of Laura – received.

Ken passed away from lung and bone cancer on July 12 last, the same day Eddie was diagnosed with lung cancer.

"I have been getting treatment there since July and I'm now going for immune treatment. I'll also be going to St James' Hospital in Dublin for radium treatment as I also suffered a seizure of the brain," explained Eddie.

He said he was "over the moon" with how successful the fund-raiser had proven to be and "can't thank my wife, Breda, and Laura enough for all they've done."

Funds were raised through the darts exhibition and a draw for a signed darts board on exhibition night in the Goalpost.

A substantial portion of the funds – approximately €2,000 – was raised over a two day period by Laura and Eddie in the Bridge Centre and Eddie extended their gratitude to the manager of the shopping centre, John Cusack.

Perhaps the highlight of the darts exhibition night in the Goalpost on Monday week last was when Eddie was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his work in promoting darts in the Goalpost by the pub's proprietor Darren Sheridan.

Eddie and Breda introduced darts to the Goalpost eight years ago and since then it has thrived there with the pub fielding an array of teams.

Eddie has captained the team which won the Daingean Darts League over the past two years.

Eddie is very grateful to the oncology unit staff for his ongoing treatment and despite his diagnosis he looks forward to the future with confidence.

"I'm going to fight it to the last. I'm not giving up and I'm staying positive the whole time," he stressed.