Local teenager raising money for Irish Cancer Society with series of unique challenges

Athlone Community College student Matthew Parker (16) from Lecarrow recently set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society by completing a number of unique challenges such as bleaching his hair and getting his ear pierced.

Matthew said that he chose to undertake the fundraiser because he has lost family members and friends to cancer including his grandfather and step-grandfather who passed away after suffering with lung cancer and a rare skin cancer respectively, both in 2016.

“It was completely unexpected,” said Matthew. "We had no idea it was going to happen so that was tough because they lived in France so we never got to say goodbye and just that feeling of not being able to say goodbye to the people you love, it's a really tough thing.” He also had a family friend who passed away following a battle with cancer two years ago.

He said that cancer has impacted his life and his families' lives quite badly. “I just wanted to do something to change it so I just wanted to see what I could do to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society.”

Since establishing the fundraiser, Matthew said that many people have been in touch with him to share their experiences of losing loved ones to cancer. “It really makes you realise how many people have cancer, how many people are affected by cancer. It's heartbreaking,” said the local student.

“I have goals set and sometimes either friends or family will give me an idea for a goal to set and once I reach a milestone, (certain amount of money) I then complete the goal,” explained Matthew.

Matthew said that he has received “plenty of support” since setting up the GoFundMe in late February and that he is happy with the progress of the fundraiser as he didn't expect to raise as much money. He has set a target of €5,000 and has raised €1,805 to date.

Since setting up the fundraiser, Matthew got a buzz cut when he raised €100, bleached his hair at the €200 mark, pierced his ear when he raised €750 and shaved his hair to go completely bald when he reached €1,000.

He plans to complete a 15km walk or run when he reached the €2,250 target, apply fake tan when he raises €2,500, perform the song 'I'm Just Ken' from the Barbie movie upon raising €2,750 and wax his legs and get a tattoo of the Irish Cancer Society when he reaches the figures of €4,000 and €5,000 respectively.

Regarding the milestone challenges that he has planned as part of the fundraiser, Matthew said: “I do them at home and I record them and then I post them online for everyone to see.”

Matthew is utilising social media to promote his fundraiser by posting photos of himself completing the challenges and recording, editing and posting videos online of him doing so. He said that it's “rewarding” for him when he puts in the work completing the challenges and it pays off through the donations he receives.

He added that he hopes to study medicine in the future and hopes to be able to help people suffering from cancer as well as many other detrimental conditions.

Matthew will be collecting money in Golden Island Shopping Centre in the near future as part of his fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society. When the fundraiser concludes, Matthew plans to meet with a representative from the Irish Cancer Society to present them with the money raised from the GoFundMe.

Matthew is the son of Daryl Parker from Limerick and Severine Parker from France.

To donate to the GoFundMe visit www.gofundme.com/f/hair-buzz-for-cancer-charity.