Football can sometimes be far from his mind - but Wishaw FC’s Kieran Brannan says action at the Beltane Park club has helped him take his mind off his son’s cancer battle.
Brave little Luca Brannan is undergoing chemotherapy to treat a rare tumour, and the club will hold a fun day this Saturday at Hamilton Accies’ New Douglas Park to raise funds for the hospital treating him, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
He was only four-months-old when it was discovered by doctors that he had an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) that needed treatment.
Such tumours often begin as benign but that was not the case and soon Luca needed chemotherapy treatment twice a day, every day. It has been tough on Kieran, mum Shannan and his older brother Leo.
And Brannan says the fundraiser wants to help kids in similar situations to his son.
He said: “Luca didn’t have his ward - the Schiehallion - set up initially so we are looking to put money back into the ward so families can get the benefit of it like an iPad and things like that.
“As you can imagine, when you are diagnosed with stuff like this, there are loads of charities who want to help out.
“Everything comes at a cost though so we hope to put some money together so they can get an iPad or something out it.
“The rest will put back to the charity. We want to give a kid that bit more of a chance and make it easier to bring different treatments to Scotland.”
Luca is fighting the disease but it’s been a hard time for all the Brannans as they look to help their youngest through the most difficult time.
At David Dunn’s West of Scotland Football League side, the father is able to have a slight escape from what is going on.
He explained: “He’s going to be two in October so we hope he starts speaking soon so that he can tell us how he’s feeling.
“We could be away to the hospital tonight, it’s just something we are having to live with at the moment. But we have so much positivity around us at the moment from family, friends and community.
“When we found out the news, it was about finding out how to deal with it. But we have just tried to be as positive as we can with tunnel vision, keeping moving forward.
“We are getting over every barrier as best as we can. I am still trying to go to my football with Wishaw and keep on training. Sometimes the fatigue kicks in but it’s good to be around the boys and the changing room.
“It’s good to get a laugh with the boys. I have tried to live my life the way I can but I am needing to give my missus the manager’s phone number for training in case anything happens. We are trying to live life the way we want to.”
Saturday's fundraiser will see a free afternoon of fun running from noon until 5pm and a ticketed evening starts at 7.30pm. Donations are welcome.
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