Kilkenny man receives Special Recognition Award

Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (OLH&CS) has awarded a Special Recognition Award to Kilkenny native, Ger Kelly, at a recent ceremony on Friday, August 29 in Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, attended by staff, family and friends.

The OLH&CS’ Special Recognition Award recognises the commitment and determination of one very special individual.

Ger, a 38 year old man from Gowran was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer in November 2021 having just recovered from polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), a rare auto-immune disorder that causes inflammation of the blood.

However, despite dealing with his own life-limiting illness, the local man is passionate about ensuring as many people as possible know about the many services available to patients, the impact they have and how important fundraising is to OLH&CS.

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Not one to do things by half, Ger has taken on some incredible fundraising initiatives such organising a massive tractor run locally, participating in a 10km walk with family, friends, and neighbours and organising music sessions and race day events.

To date, he has raised over €22,000 in support of Blackrock Hospice.

Ger has also been exceptionally generous as a great advocate of OLH&CS in telling of his personal experience of palliative care, the facilities and services he has been able to access, and the difference they have made to him. He does this so that other patients and families have a better understanding of palliative care and Hospice and to help ease any fears or worries they may have.

"Thanks to OLH&CS, I truly am living my best life right to the end and helping patients today and tomorrow receive the best care possible through research, advocacy, and raising vital funds," he said.

The local man also opened up about his experience as a patient accessing some of OLH&CS’ research trials and the positive impact it had on him living his life.

"I feel I would have faded away if Norah, my Clinical Research Nurse had not recruited me for the trial. I struggled to maintain a healthy weight due to my illness, but over 12 weeks on the trial, the extra weight gave me more confidence and strength and I was able to enjoy the taste of food again. Cancer had stolen so much from me, but research helped to give me back something I thought I had lost. Research improved the quality of my life," Ger added.