By Connla Young

connla@derrypost.com

A County Derry man whose baby daughter has battled against a rare form of   leukaemia has wheeled out a plan to harness pedal power to raise cash for children’s cancer charities.

Draperstown man Eoin Kelly is set to cycle from Land’s End to John of Groats via Belfast and Dublin next month to raise cash for several children’s charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The world famous hospital been treating his three-year-old daughter, Rose, for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a rare form of the deadly disease, for almost three years.

Little Rose was diagnosed with the condition in July 2006 when she was just five months.

Despite being given just a 50:50 chance of survival, the courageous tot has undergone several rounds of gruelling cancer treatments.

Now the tot’s grateful parents Eoin and Alison, who are based in London, have vowed to raise cash for other kids with the potentially deadly disease.

Devoted dad Eoin will be joined by family and friends from across Ireland and Britain when he takes part in the marathon fundraising cycle trek next month.

Eoin explained why he decided to take the challenge on.

“I remember having a conversation with one of Rose’s nurses, Teresa, when they were administering a vial of new drugs used to help control a serious fungal infection which put Rose onto a life-support machine and until very recently was potentially lethal for babies on chemotherapy,” he said.

“She was on a concoction of medication including specialised anti-fungal drugs; IV caspofungin and abisome and Teresa told me one of these drugs cost around £600 a vial. Rose was on this two or three times a day. I was struck by the resources being put into saving the life of my baby. I made a promise that if I ever had the chance I would try to do something, anything, myself to help repay this debt and help ensure that the treatment could be improved to prevent these types of complications.”

Last night Eoin’s aunt Anne McAllister, who is organising fundraising in Draperstown, said the family want to give something back.

“The doctors warned that she might not survive the two years of severe treatment needed but her parents and all our family are delighted to see her now so well,” she said.  “Eoin and Alison are so grateful to the two hospitals involved in her treatment that they decided to take on this challenge to raise money for them as a thank you,” she said.

The Roses Gift Challenge will raise cash for Great Ormaond Street Hospital, Children with Leukaemia and Momentum and will run from July 19 to July 30.

Those who would like to organise fundraising events, support the challenge or simply find out more about Rose should visit www.rosesgift.org.