Imgur appeal for terminally ill Irish emigrant raises $80k

An online appeal for an Irish emigrant living in California, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, has seen an outpouring of support and has raised over $80,000 (€57,000) in just four days.

Father-of-two and former Blackrock College pupil Ronan Winter was diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer in December last.

"It is a terminal cancer and he is on his final days. He will be leaving behind his wife Diane and two beautiful daughters, Keelan and Keara," wrote family friend Michelle Nagelvoort in an appeal on crowdfunding site GoFundMe on Sunday May 4th.

This prompted a post by his niece Courtney on social image site Imgur entitled, I'm sorry Imgur, but I could use some help , accompanied by a gallery of photos of Mr Winter and his family in better days and his gaunt figure now.

She explains that her uncle was the breadwinner but now his wife Diane has to pay for medical bills, the mortgage and their daughters’ (aged 15 and 11) college funds are drained and their savings are gone.

Last year the couple decided to cancel their life insurance policy to concentrate on their children’s college funds with plans to renew it in a few years. “ Sadly this cancer changed all those plans and now this young family has no income and the college funds will be left unfulfilled,”Ms Nagelvoort wrote.

Mr Winter worked as long as he could until he had a stroke which left hum unable to eat or speak. “Because of how weak he is, they cannot put a feeding tube in him, the surgery is too invasive. He is currently on 24/7 in-home hospice care. His girls get to watch him slowly whither into nothing. He cannot speak, he hardly eats, and he sleeps most of the day. It’s absolutely devastating,” his niece wrote.

“I may not be able to give them money, but I can get their story out there. I can get it shared and maybe, through the kindness of others, they can get the financial help they so desperately need,” she said.

Her Imgur post has received over 3000 comments and the fundraising page has received more than 2,500 donations in four days. Among the many posts on these pages and on his Facebook page are his former Blackrock College, Dublin classmates.

In response to the support Ms Nagelvoort wrote a post to thanks people for their support. “ The outpouring of love for Ronan and his beloved family is beyond marvellous and it couldn’t be for a more deserving family. Ronan is remaining comfortable and is facing this terrible battle with bravery and grace while his family remains at his side.”