Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley says he is “blown away” by the response to his family’s fundraising appeal - which by Friday morning had hit almost €73,000.
That money will be split between three charities - the Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin, the Irish Cancer Society and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.
Bradley’s wife Emma set up the idonate.ie page - a shave your head challenge - in the wake of eight-year-old son Josh’s Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia diagnosis.
READ MORE: Stephen Bradley shaves his head in solidarity with his son as they fundraise for charity
The Hoops boss and several of his players have shaved their heads in support of Josh.
Bradley said: “Incredible, really blown away by it, myself and my wife, incredible support from everyone.
“Really, we can’t thank people enough, anyone who donated and supported, it means so much to us.
“The amount of clubs around the league, their squads, their fans, just people in general, it’s been absolutely incredible.
“The amount of videos that my son is getting through of people shaving their heads, it gives him a lift for a minute, that’s worth it for me, when I see that smile on his face.
“I genuinely can’t thank people enough. It’s incredible.
“It looks like it’s going to go to €75,000, we’ll be out to give that to the charities, the three charities.
“You don’t see what they do and how they help families until you’re in that situation.
“I know we all hear of it, everyone knows someone that’s been touched by it in their life.
“But until you are actually in St John’s Ward with your family and your kid, you don’t see the work that goes into helping young families.”
Despite all they are going through, Bradley says his family are in a much better place than others who are caring for a child with a serious illness.
“We’re very very lucky, me and my wife, with our jobs and support we have around us and the fact we live where we live to be able to go to the hospital,” he said.
“But the amount of people you speak to around the country where one has to give up their job, they’ve financial issues with mortgages, or they’re staying in the hospital or they’re trekking three or four hours to get to the hospital.
“It’s heartbreaking when you’re listening to these stories and their number one priority is their sick kid.
“For these charities to be able to help them like they do, and we’ve seen first hand what they do, it’s incredible.
“So for us, to be able to be able to say a massive thank you from the bottom of my heart, and to be able to say to those charities what could be €25,000 each is incredible.
“Because I know the families that it will help and the kids that it will help.
“So yeah, it’s special, thank you. Thanks for spreading the word for us as well.”
You can continue to donate to the Bradleys' fundraising appeal here.
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