Former Longford garda overwhelmed by support as online appeal for cancer stricken son smashes €250k barrier

Liverpool fanatic Joseph Belton has courageously been battling neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer, for the past two and a half years.

In that time, the happy-go-lucky Roscommon schoolboy has been forced to forgo his love of Gaelic football and hurling for umpteen hospital trips and gruelling treatments.

The St Comans Wood Primary School pupil is due to undergo the last batch of five three week immunotherapy treatments in Crumlin Children’s Hospital over the coming days ahead of a potential life-changing trip to the world renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.

In order to make Joseph’s application to undertake a clinical trial for a Neuroblastoma vaccine at the US based facility a reality, a gofundme campaign was set up on February 23 in a bid to raise €250,000.

In that time, a staggering €245,000 has been raised from almost 5,000 donations via an apty named ‘Joseph’s Journey’ gofundme appeal, leaving Joseph’s parents Aoife and Mick Belton stunned.

“It’s been so overwhelming,” said Mick, who until July 2021 had been a prominent member attached to Longford’s Community Policing Unit.

“To get to that figure in the space of a few weeks is unbelievable. We are still getting our heads around it as a family. It would definitely put the wind in your sails.”

The challenges posed by such a devastating illness has, by Mick’s own admission, seen their lives “turned upside down” with both parents being forced to take extended periods of time off work to care for their beloved son.

Mick similarly told of how news surrounding Joseph’s illness also took its toll on his twin brother Cillian.

The pair had been largely inseparable prior to Joseph’s diagnosis, a closeness which despite extended spells in hospital and away from each other, never wavered.

“Joseph was playing underage with (football) with Roscommon Gaels and the two of them love hurling and football,” added Mick.

“They would do everything together and this (Joseph’s illness) has been a big upheaval for them.”

Now based in Roscommon Gardaí's court presenters offices following a 13 year spell attached to Longford garda station, Mick is pinning his hopes on scans which are due to be undertaken on Joseph next month come back clear.

That target, together with the need to raise €250,000 to fund a three year treatment programme in the US, is one the 41-year-old is determined to reach.

“To get onto the trial over there you have to be in remission so the scans Joseph is due to have next month must be favourable,” he said.

“There is a 45 day window that we are hoping to go initially for four to six weeks but it is going to require about ten to 15 trips over and back in total.

“We are just so incredibly grateful to everyone who has kept our dreams alive.”

To donate to Joseph’s Journey simply follow the link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/pnas5h-josephs-journey