Imagine what it would be like if your little child was very ill and his treatment involved regular trips from west Limerick to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin. Then imagine getting a call from a group of people who were offering to fundraise on behalf of your child.

This is exactly what happened to Margaret and Martin Sheehan and their little son Mark. Mark was diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2011 when he was four years old. He spent the past three years between Crumlin and University Hospital, Limerick, having chemotherapy. Apart from the terrible worry, all the travel put huge strain on the family, especially when their other little boy, Conor, was only aged three at the time of the diagnosis.

“We had a call from Kieran Hynes who is part of the Full Moon Barn Dance group from Kilmeedy. They have been fundraising for various charities for the last four years. It was Kieran’s turn to nominate a suitable cause and he picked Mark. It was amazing.”

Together with the family, who come from near Ballyhahill in west Limerick, they sold over 800 tickets for a summer barn dance. It culminated with a cheque of over €25,000 being presented to Dr Anegus O’Marcaigh, oncology consultant at Crumlin Hospital.

“All but €2,000 of the money is going to St John’s ward where they treat childhood cancer. Dr O’Marcaigh was so grateful for the wonderful donation that he presented Kieran with a medal on behalf of Our Lady’s Hospital.”

Both Margaret and Michael were stunned with the support they received.

“Everyone who was approached helped and we got great sponsorship from businesses,” says Margaret.

They especially want to thank Dr O’Marcaigh, Lorna Storney, and all the staff at Crumlin.

These days, Mark is the picture of health, is off chemotherapy and has just started first class at Kilcolman School. The Barn Dance group continue to help local causes and in four years they have raised almost €80,000 for them.

Michelle and Niall O’Callaghan got the brainwave when they attended a full moon party on their honeymoon in Thailand. They adapted the idea and now the Barn Dance is held on the family farm during the first full moon of summer. It’s a totally voluntary effort and gets bigger every year.