Rory McIlroy ‘blown away’ by courage of children with cancer

Rory McIlroy spoke today about how he was “blown away” by the spirit and courage of children, and their families, who have been coping with cancer.

The Holywood, Co Down golfer travelled to near Newcastle, also in Co Down today to officially open the new Daisy Lodge therapeutic short-break centre for children with cancer. "I am just happy that I can lend a hand."

With nine-year-old cancer-battler Caleb Overton he officially opened the retreat centre which is nestled in the heart of the Mourne Mountains providing badly needed respite for the children and their families.

He said Daisy Lodge was a centre where the children and their families could and should be “treated like royalty”.

The world number one golfer wasn’t at all put out by the fact that many of the children seemed more interested in talking about soccer than golf. He took heart that so many of them supported his own team.

"A lot of them are Manchester United fans which quite impressed me...although there were a few Liverpool ones in there and we had a little bit of contention," he joked.

McIlroy, with his charitable Rory Foundation, has contributed £1 million to the cost of the new centre which each year will cater for 500 families who have children struggling with cancer. So far this year the centre has welcomed 151 families, nine of them from the South.

McIlroy endorsed the description of Gillian Creevy, chief executive of the Cancer Fund for Children, which runs Daisy Lodge, who said it was a retreat where "families can dig deep and stay strong".

The No 1 world golfer visited the centre a number of times, first meeting children there last Christmas Eve. “I was just blown away, I really was. It really makes you appreciate what you have and I wanted to help in any way that I could,” he said.

“It touches you, it really does,” said McIlroy, adding that it demonstrated the importance of the family unit, a security and a support that he was fortunate to have from his parents, Rosie and Gerry.

“You have grown up in a household with two parents and a family unit, it is something that we take for granted, a normal family. You come here and it makes you really appreciate that. Coming here and seeing the families again, it is really touching.”

McIlroy said he was also impressed with how the centre not only addresses the need of the child suffering cancer but helps the “mums and dads, and the siblings. I think that the brothers and sisters are the ones that sort of get lost in this whole thing”.

“It is great for the whole family to get together,” he added.

Ms Creevy thanked McIlroy for “standing shoulder to shoulder” with the children and their families. “Families arrive at Daisy Lodge exhausted, vulnerable and broken having spent many anxious months in a hospital ward or in isolation,” she explained.

“They are in need or rest, relaxation and quality time together. A short break at Daisy Lodge helps them to recuperate so they are ready for whatever lies ahead,” added Ms Creevy.