GAA family unites to support Amanda
Paddy Stapleton has achieved more than most in his lifetime, including two All Ireland senior hurling medals with Tipperary and 3 North senior titles with Borris-Ileigh.
But when he looks back in the years to come, organising a benefit game this Saturday night for his sister Amanda, will surpass anything he has or will do.
The last couple of months have been surreal for Paddy and his family, following the cancer diagnosis of his younger sister (30) was confirmed, leaving her unable to work and facing a challenging future.
“She is living her life as normal as she can,” revealed Paddy of his sister who lives in London but will be back home in her native Borrisoleigh this Saturday.
“She is quite strong and the doctors say she is stronger than she should be which is a great sign. It's a testament to her and her attitude.
“It makes life so much easier for us seeing her happy and being positive going forward, and we are lucky to have a sister like her that is so tough,” he said.
As tends to be the case when a family in rural Ireland is reeling, the community steps up and that is what has happened with the benefit match and supporting events this Saturday.
“Really people came to me and my family looking to put a committee together and that's the sort of people we have in Borrisoleigh, who want to help out. It's been brilliant,” said Paddy.
“It's not that we have to look for people to do work, most of the things we are doing is people coming to us, offering their business as a vehicle to promote it and has made it very easy.”
Through his own friendships from his inter-county hurling career, teammates and opponents from Tipperary and Kilkenny quickly lined up to make themselves available to play.
Paddy's brother Shane, well-known GAA writer and reporter on Newstalk, has been able to tap into the power of the media with a large number his journalistic colleagues and photographers making their way to Borrisoleigh last Monday week for the official launch of the Benefit Match, offering their support to promote and make the event as successful as it can possibly be.
“From my own point of view it kept me pretty busy,” added Paddy of the organisation of the event which will see Tipperary and Kilkenny clash at 6.00pm, followed by a social event in a specially-constructed marque afterwards. Earlier in the day, the Bush & Briar Rambers are
holding a 12km Hill-walk, departing from the Community Centre Borrisoleigh at 9.00am, while at 11am, a Club Colours Run will take place in the town, with all proceeds going to the Amanda Stapleton Benefit Fund.
“That was the big hope that it would catch fire and it has,” added Stapleton of the match with provision made for around 4,000 people to attend the match at Bishop Quinlan Park.
“We see the end goal on Saturday and hope to see a packed house here,” added Paddy.”
“And as much as anything, to have a very good night, for the parish and the parish want to show what it means to them as well so it has been unreal so far.
“Since the recession, people are always looking for a big occasion as people tend not to go out every weekend any more, they want a nice occasion and I think this will be a very good occasion with the ex-players and the amount of people you can go to the match and enjoy it with.
“It's going to be competitive without being too serious but the bit of rivalry will add to it as well. I think a lot of Kilkenny people will travel too, so it should have that great mix,” he said.
Amanda Stapleton is not the only cancer-victim that will benefit from the night as the specially designed Tipperary and Kilkenny jerseys, produced by the local Bourke Sports, will be worn by the players and will be sold afterwards, with all monies raised going to North Tipperary Hospice, and Suir Haven & Cois Nore Cancer Support Centres in Thurles and Kilkenny.
Stapleton said: “We are not on our own. There have been and will be people in that same situation and it's up to us if we have some sort of medium at the minute and have attention for this that we can place it on something else and give some other people a bit of light.
“I was involved with Suir Haven last year in a fundraiser and I see the tough work they do in Thurles and it is not easy and they are facing into helping people everyday so they need a crutch as well.”
Tickets (Adults - €20, Under 16's - free) for the Amanda Stapleton Benefit Fund match are still available and can be bought at outlets in Nenagh (A Sportsmans Dream and the Zip Yard), Borrisoleigh, The Ragg and Thurles, as well as online at the link below. Those who cannot attend the match but wish to make a donation can do so at the same website.