Family rallies for four-year-old Tipperary girl relocating to UK for vital treatment

Family members have rallied to help a very proud Boherlahan girl after she was diagnosed with a rare immunodeficiency.

Four year-old Peggy Leahy will have to undergo chemotherapy and a bone narrow transplant, and two close family friends are working together to help fund the treatment.

After years of questioning what was causing her poor health, parents Seamus and Niamh finally learned the truth a few months ago following another lengthy stint in hospital for the young girl.

READ MORE - Surprise, surprise! Two Ryans in Tipperary win big cash prize in Lotto draw

Her dad, Seamie, explained earlier this year: “She was diagnosed late last year with an immunodeficiency. It's quite a rare condition, it’s a genetic condition that leaves her vulnerable to specific types of bacteria called non tuberculosis mycobacterium, so they’re just environmental bacteria.”

Even though she’s only three, Peggy understands that she is sick.

“She understands she's sick, she’s quite bright, but she doesn't understand perhaps the seriousness of her condition. But she does understand that there's something going on. We have to go to hospital quite a bit, and we're taking medicines daily. So, there's a lot going on, she understands that much,” her dad said.

In order to treat the condition, Peggy has to undergo a bone marrow transplant. To get the treatment, she will have to travel to The Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, England, with her family.

Niamh and her daughter travelled to the UK to start a vital isolation period weeks ago, but unfortunately Peggy was diagnosed with Covid in the meantime which delayed her treatment. Seamus is expected to follow soon, planning to take a long period of unpaid time off to be by his daughter's side for the procedures.

Now, some very close friends of the family are rallying to raise funds to support them during this vital time for Peggy's health. Two of Seamus' lifelong friends, Darragh Kennedy and AJ Maher, have launched a fundraiser for the Leahy family where they'll be taking on the gruelling Swiss Alps 100 Ultra Marathon.

The event covers a grueling 50km distance with a total elevation gain of 3210 meters, but the pair said in a GoFundMe that "we are doing this to raise funds for Peggy Leahy, the brave daughter of Niamh & Seamie Leahy".

"Seamie has been a lifelong friend and teammate at Boherlahan Dualla GAA, and we have shared countless moments on and off the hurling field. Now, we want to support him and his family in this challenging time," Darragh and AJ said.

The funds raised by the runners will go towards Peggy's medical treatment and help cover the relocation costs for the family as they support Peggy through her treatment in Newcastle.

"Your support means the world to us and to the Leahy family. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference," they said.

The pair have already raised an impressive 5,000 and their GoFundMe can be found here.