Cavan footballer Oisin Kiernan taking on Moylagh challenge following cancer diagnosis

Cavan county footballer Oisin Kiernan is one of hundreds tackling the Moylagh 50 Mile Challenge on June 8th to raise vital funds for cancer patients. The 25-year-old, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer last August, is encouraging others to join him and clock up some miles to support others facing cancer.

Oisin, whose family are pig farmers from Ballymanus on the Meath/Westmeath border, was dealt a shock last year when he was diagnosed with cancer just months after he made his debut for Cavan.

He said, “I had nothing wrong with me whatsoever. I felt 100 per cent so when I first found the lump I wasn’t bothered.” When he did go to see GP he was sent for a scan and told he had testicular cancer. Oisin had an operation in September and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy. In March he got the all clear and was thrilled to get back out on the pitch in time to see Cavan defeat Monaghan in a championship game for the first time in 18 years.

Oisin will be walking in the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge and is proud to support this amazing event in his locality. Funds raised from the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge will be split this year with 10% going to LARCC, 10% to a local specialist palliative care comfort fund, and 80% going to the Irish Cancer Society. For Oisin, cancer research carried out by the Irish Cancer Society is very important to him as he availed of a new form of chemo during his treatment which meant he didn’t suffer too badly with side effects.

He said, “Cancer research is a massive thing. They are always improving ways of diagnosing and treating cancer and by supporting the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge you can help ensure progress continues to be made.”

The event kicks off at 6am on June 8th in Moylagh, just outside Oldcastle Co Meath. The 50 mile challenge is a 50 mile walk/run, participants can do as much as they can and also relay groups are welcome. To date the challenge has raised over €575k for cancer services in Ireland.

If you would like to register for the challenge please visit www.50milechallenge.com for more details.