From heartbreak to hope: €26,680 raised in Rocco’s name

A charity ball held in Buncrana in August to mark what would have been the 18th birthday of the late Rocco McGinley has raised an extraordinary €26,680 for a range of children’s charities and local causes.

Rocco, a much-loved Buncrana teenager, passed away in February 2023 following a courageous battle with an extremely rare and aggressive brain tumour. He was just 16 years old.

His parents, Yvonne Hegarty and Wade McGinley, along with family and friends, organised Rocco’s 18th Birthday Ball at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel to celebrate his short but beautiful life and to give back to the charities and organisations that supported Rocco and his family during his illness. While the McGinleys initially hoped to raise a modest amount, the final total far exceeded all expectations.

“We never in a million years, when we set out planning a night to remember Rocco on his 18th birthday, did we think we would end up helping and donating so much money in Rocco’s memory,” his family said.

“We were honestly blown away by the total amount raised. A massive €26,680 was raised in Rocco’s memory, all of which has been donated in his name to so many worthy causes. For that, we are so grateful to every person and business who donated, sponsored, bought tickets, or helped in any way to make the night such a success.”

Major donations included €10,000 to the Gavin Glynn Foundation, which helped support the family with travel costs during Rocco’s treatment in Texas, and €5,180 to Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, which supports families of children diagnosed with cancer.

A further €1,500 worth of toys was donated to the paediatric ward at Letterkenny University Hospital. Local causes also benefited, with €2,000 donated to Buncrana Children’s Charity and €5,000 to Scoil Íosagáin in Buncrana, to assist with the development of a new sensory room.

Rocco had been diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour in October 2021. The Junior Cert student at Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana was treated in Letterkenny University Hospital, and in Dublin at Crumlin Children's Hospital, Temple Street Children's University Hospital and St Luke’s Hospital.

The family described the fundraising as both heart-warming and bittersweet. “We know that Rocco’s family will forever carry the heartbreak of losing their beautiful son, brother, grandchild, and nephew, and nothing will ever ease that pain,” they said. “It is so very bittersweet to now be donating money to charities that tried so very hard to help and save Rocco from such a cruel disease.”

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They also paid tribute to the community support that made the night possible. “Without the help we received, it simply would not have been possible to make the night such a success. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

Rocco’s legacy, they said, lives on through the kindness he inspired.

“Rocco will never be forgotten. He left an imprint on every person he came into contact with, and we were all so privileged to have known him.”