Fundraiser launched by GAA club to help player seriously injured in USA taxi crash

A major fundraiser has been launched on behalf of a GAA player who remains in hospital in America after a horror crash. 

Shane Campbell is a 22-year-old student from Kells, Co. Meath, who went to Chicago to work for the summer, like so many Irish students on a J1 Visa.

However, the organisers behind the GoFundMe campaign say Shane's American dream turned into a nightmare as the taxi he was a passenger in was involved in a horrific car crash. As a result, Shane has been a patient in John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County since the 5th of June.

Shane was initially maintained in an induced coma and intubated. As well as several broken bones, more seriously, Shane suffered significant abdominal trauma which has required ten surgical procedures to date and may require more in the future.

"He has thankfully improved, is awake and cognitive, but faces a long road to recovery. He needs several more weeks of medical care in John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County followed by months of rehab," the fundraising organisers said. 

"Shane did have travel insurance, and this will cover his basic medical needs. However, we all know how expensive medical care is in the US, so his insurance falls short of covering everything, and will not cover ANY of his rehab care," the organisers added. 

Shane is supported by his twin brother Niall, who was also in Chicago for the summer, his mother Jean, who flew from Ireland to be with him and will remain there for the months ahead. Shane's sister Grace and father David who have stayed, for now, in Kells.

"Shane is a much-loved son, brother, colleague, and teammate within our community. His family are known far and wide from Manhattan to Meath. But now they need YOUR help. Shane has shown great courage in his progress so far and is determined to fully recover and get home. Please help support him and his family through this difficult time," the organisers said.

"All monies received will help alleviate the financial costs already incurred and finance Shane's future rehab and care to restore him to full health," the organisers outlined.

So far the campaign has now almost reached its initial target of €50,000, which has now been increased to €75,000. 

Within 24 hours of the fundraising campaign being launched, 900 donations had been received, the largest of which was an anonymous donation of €1,000. You can find details of the GoFundMe campaign here