Generous stranger raises funds for the families of two children undergoing gruelling hospital treatments

Running enthusiast Donal Owen has completed a half marathon every weekend since the start of March in an effort to help two very poorly children from Rochdale.

Donal, of Whitworth, wanted to bring in some financial support for the parents of 23-month-old Daisy Taylor and 10-year-old Luca Stelnicki, from two separate families, who need to be able spend as much time with their children in hospital while they undergo gruelling treatments.

To date, Donal - who is a complete stranger to the children and their families – has raised over £1,340 for the cause.

On his GoFundMe page Donal explains that he wanted ‘to raise money for the families so they can be by their children's bedside in hospital and not worry about money for the time being’.

Daisy’s father, Lance Taylor, explained their circumstances: “Daisy was born with Down syndrome, we got her diagnosis at birth. She also had a couple of issues when she was born which resulted in her having an operation to give her a colostomy at two days old.

“Last year, she underwent two major operations to help her and to finally reverse her colostomy. My wife had to be with her during those operations alone as I wasn’t allowed into the hospital due to Covid-19.”

 

 

Two months before Daisy’s second birthday, in February 2021, a small, speckled rash formed on her legs which did not go away under a glass, so her parents took Daisy to A&E with the suspicion she had meningitis.

“A few hours later my wife (who was there alone with her again, due to Covid) was given the devastating news that our 22-month-old baby had AML - acute myeloid leukaemia,” Lance continued.

“She is currently receiving intensive chemotherapy at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to help fight it.”

Luca, from Shawclough, was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia - myelodysplastic syndrome - in May 2019. The following September, he underwent a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy, but then in March 2020 he was diagnosed with graft versus host disease (GvHD) of the lungs, which meant the donor’s blood was attacking his organs.

This diagnosis means that, unfortunately, Luca must now have a double lung transplant, which he is currently on the waiting list for.

Luca's dad, Craig Stelnicki, said: "Luca's diagnosis began in 2017 when myself and my wife, Michelle, noticed he had really sore boils on his body. Fast forward two years, after having bloods taken at Manchester Children's Hospital, he was instantly transferred to the leukaemia ward where he started on intensive chemotherapy and had a bone marrow transplant.

"Now we're just waiting for the call to say he can have the double lung transplant, and we'll be travelling straight down to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"Despite everything that's been thrown at him, Luca always smashes it. He's such a strong kid, he really is a legend."

 

 

After hearing of both the families difficult news, Donal decided to set himself a goal on 20 February of running a half marathon each week for the next month.

Craig added: "I think what Donal is doing is unbelievable. I look forward to eventually meeting him and thanking him for his heart of gold. The money from this will be going towards Luca's 'America Fund', as we're really keen to take him to Universal Studios and just have an amazing time when he's ready to go. It just gives him something to focus on and really look forward to."

Daisy’s father Lance added: “The fact that Donal is doing something so selfless for both us and another family is just amazing. It will help so much as I am self-employed and am obviously unable to work as I want to be with Daisy and my wife on the ward.

“There are not really any words to explain how much this means to us. What an amazing person he is.”

Donal will complete his final half marathon this weekend, on the morning of Saturday 27 March, at Whitworth’s Cowm Reservoir.

You can donate to the GoFundMe page here:

• https://uk.gofundme.com/f/running-for-daisy-and-luca