Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page!

As a very private person I find myself way out of my comfort zone in sharing certain aspects of my personal life online. My cancer diagnosis in 2022 is one of those things, but the time has come for me to share my story in order to give back a little to those that helped me throughout.

Unfortunately I received a diagnosis for testicular cancer back in December 2022. We thought all would be fine with just some routine surgery, but unfortunately my check up scan 3 months after threw up the scary scenario that surgery hadn’t totally got rid of it and I would have to undergo 8 weeks of intense chemotherapy in order to take care of business.

My treatment was received in July/August 2023 at the Friends of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, where the staff went above and beyond the call of duty in reassuring me from day one that I was going to be ok and by delivering my treatment effectively and efficiently. Most importantly, they were superb in advising me on how to deliver the news to Jenson and Bobby my two young children (6+4 at the time) and help them to understand what their daddy was going through. I genuinely have no words to emphasise how good they were in taking care of me.

Given the environment I would be in, I had never planned to bring the boys to the hospital on my treatment days but after my first couple of days settling in and with the support I was receiving, I thought it would be better for them to come and see where their daddy was getting his medicine, to give them the reassurance that I was being well looked after and that I was going to be ok. From then on, all their questions of concern for me came to a stop. They could see I was being well looked after and that I was going to be ok. We just had to see this out.

That was always the motto from day 1 …. Let’s just see this out and everything will be ok and thankfully it was.

Once the dust settled I always had an idea that I wanted to give something back to the cancer centre for the way they treated me and for making my journey as painless and as straightforward as could possibly be.

For this reason I have decided to organise a charity 11 a side football match on Saturday 6th September, consisting of a mix of friends and players who I used to play with, against a team from the o40’s from Groomsport FC where I am currently involved.

This is to try and generate some funds to give back to the Friends of the cancer centre at Belfast City Hospital.

The match will take place at The Meadows playing fields in Groomsport on Saturday 6th September (kick off 5.30pm) and we hope to have bouncy castle etc for the kids of those involved or who want to come and watch (weather permitting) and anybody who wants to come along for a laugh and show their support to those taking part will be most welcome.

Afterwards, we will be heading across to the Groomsport Inn for a few drinks, some nibbles and some great ballot prizes so please feel free to come along and get involved and show your support!

I would really, really appreciate any sort of donation no matter how small in order to help support this great cause and please feel free share and spread the word as every little will help!

Thanks again

Conor McQuillan

FYI- Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.