Passage man Tom dies after brave battle with cancer

A CORKMAN who led a brave campaign to battle cancer by seeking access to a pioneering drug has sadly passed away.

Tom Ryan, from Passage West, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2009 when he was a first-year catering student at Cork Institute of Technology.

After a number of failed treatments, he was told that his only hope was a pioneering new drug called Brentuximab Vedotin, which costs €80,000 for the eight doses he needed.

The family had started fund-raising for the drug but his treatment was then funded by the Health Service Executive.

Tom had remained upbeat about life throughout his cancer battle.

However, a statement was issued on his Facebook fundraising page, saying: “It is with a sad and heavy heart that we post here today. After an epic journey battling his illness, Tom passed away at 4am this morning in the company of his loving and grief-stricken family."

"Tom touched many people's lives and was an inspiration to many of us for his strength, belief and eternal positive outlook on life. We will all love and remember him in our own special way over the coming hours, days, weeks and beyond that."