It is enormously sad news that our friend Kano, Martin Kane, succumbed to his illness this morning. Kano was an ever-present on CQN for four years, on occasion writing our match reports, until illness struck in 2008. He was left completely paralysed, eventually only able to communicate through a machine, requiring round the clock care.
He was isolated in hospital in his home city of Perth, Western Australia, lonely for him and difficult for his wife Carolyn and their family, with no realistic chance of recovery. On hearing this news, CQN reacted in an incredible way. Our also now-departed friend, Pablophanque, wrote, “We need to get this guy home”, and a campaign started to raise the tens of thousands of pounds required to transform part of his home into an appropriate care facility.
As the campaign got underway I remember being concerned, it was going to take at least £60k and I thought we had no chance of getting close to this. Pablo (memorably) didn’t want to head the campaign he started but others soon stepped in and the Bring Martin Home got underway in earnest. Those behind it moved heaven and earth, and within a few months, the money was in place and Kano was back living at home with his family.
The Kano Foundation, a remarkable self-funded organisation which takes kids groups and charities to Celtic games, was established by those running the Bring Martin Home campaign, to harness the expertise and goodwill for on-going good, in Martin’s name.
When I first met Kano’s dad, Matt, who himself is no longer with us, six years ago, I was caught off-guard when he talked about Kano’s life expectancy. Unable to move he was enormously vulnerable to any prosaic infection. He suffered a few health scares but fought through them for far longer than many anticipated.
We got him back on the blog briefly, sharing some of his gratitude for the work done and his humour, but he explained the hours it took to compose his few sentences. He continued to watch Celtic, of course.
This morning our thoughts go to Carolyn and the kids, as well as to his good pal Ramie and those who cared for Martin. Those who decided to get off their arses and change the world for one family back in 2008 should be very proud of what they did, and the years at home they gave Kano.
2,068 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- ...
- 55
- »
RIP Martin
Gabriel in Belfast sat at my desk thinking much the same but you have summed it up perfectly. Thank you.
O.G. Rafferty – Days like this are the days you don’t forget..
R.I.P.Martin
Martin Kane may you Rest in Peace
Canamalar 15:17
On McGraininspain
He is a grand lad and you’re right, he played a big part in the early days of the Bring Martin Home campaign. I remember him being in contact with Pablo and also Kitalba.
I saw him just before Christmas and he is doing well (despite not being in Spain any more).
Not sure why he stopped posting but I’ve text him to let him know the news and also about your comment.
tully
Gabriel – beautiful post my bhoy.
What a sad sad day,God Bless and Rest In Peace Martin, thoughts and prayers to all the family.
Papa John
I didn’t know Martin Kane, I never corresponded with him but what he inspired on CQN is truly wonderful, I hope his wife and children take some comfort that.
RIP Martin Kane
thomthethim
Good to see you back posting, Vive La Difference indeed….
Sorry I never it made it to Gweedore for the West Donegal CQN Winter Meeting on the New Years Day – I was still kyboshed from the North Atlantic Sea Dip I took in Keadue earlier that day and then captured by my cousins in a Burtonport pub…. Next Dun na nGall visit definitely…..
Sad news today.
RIP Martin
YNWA
Gabriel in Belfast
A very moving post.
Thank you.
In all my years of lurking and posting I have never ever seen 350 posts without one mention of what’s happening with Celtic today.
This is the real tribute to Kano.
RIP Martin
Seville67
Gabriel in belfast
Capped doffed to you. Brilliant first post. Are you a …
Ay eok maybe not today :)
Do me a favour. I need a wee smile today.
Any chance of a second post with a C&P of Mr Z’s Winnie the Poo. Like you I believe it to be the best post ever made on this fine blog.
Can’t stop thinking of the 72 hour argy bargy Kano had with another poster on here. Smile at that every time I thin of it.
MWD said AYE
Tully57,
Thanks for the update, hopefully he will return, he was one of the driving forces in getting the appeal moving,
I didn’t know Kano but he has left a fantastic legacy. RIP.
RIP Martin Kane.
Thanks to yourself and all the original CQN crew,the Celtic ethos continues strong.
KTF.
RIP Martin Kane
Paul67etal.
It is with deep sorrow That I’ve decided to write this story to put on the blog.
Martins devastating Illness in 2008 really brought CQN together as a group of likeminded Celtic supporters. I was a very good friend of Pablo before Martin became ill and I remember sitting in Babbity Bowsters having a drink with him (pablo) just after news came on the blog about the tragic illness that befell Martin, we had a talk about the chances of raising the £50.000 required to get Martin back home to be with his family. I was a bit dubious, but Pablo was full of confidence that it could be done.
It was then that I feel that CQN came to life and in a round about way Martins illness brought the good out of CQNers, most of them I had never met except for the People that frequented Babbity Bowsters, as nameless faces on a blog.
Pablo asked me to help him but I declined, I was in my 69th year and I wasn’t that well at that time, but he talked me into being a signatory for any money that went into the bank account that we opened up, The other person that was involved at that time was Aldo. we opened the Account in Grangemouth at that time, as 2 off the 3 of us were from Grangemouth.
Before we really got into it all, I think Pablo had got a job in Cork and we decided to have a meeting in BBs with like minded CQNers to select a new commitee, Pablo. Aldo, Myself were joined with a few others that day,I don’t think I can name them all but a few are still on the blog to this day, BT, Jinky Bhoy, GordonJ, TinyTim, Kilbowie Kelt. TTTTs, CRC, there were more,sorry but my memory has gone.
But a new committee was chosen and it was a well organised committee. Any way we got our heads down and if memory serves me our first venture was a quiz night in a nightclub in Bell St? Forgot the name of the place but I believe there were over 400 people gathered there,It may have been Gordon J that was the quiz master that night. A quiz night in the Jury’s Inn was another,Money began to come in and I believe there was money Raised by the Aberdour golf committee that year, Anyone who can fill in my memory loss, is welcome to add to the list.
But what I remember about this time. was the people I had begun to meet.
At the Quiz nights I tried to go round every table and meet old friends from the Aberdour golf days and people that I didn’t know I was introduced to them, I must have met a thousand likeminded guys in that year alone.
All thanks to CQN, the Kano Committee, Aberdour golf tournements, CQN has been a fabulous place to be involved in.I’ve met friends from all corners of the world,KIt & Owen in OZ, Poland, Zbyszek, The guys in the USofA, Canada, and nearer home, Ireland, It’s been good to meet you all.
As I said above Martins devastating illness has brought a lot of people together that may not have happened but for that dark day.
RIP Kano.
Just read the news…………so sad…
Oldtim
Nice post
And very true
tommytwiststommyturns,
Thanks. Message received and understood:-).
Árd Macha
Kano vids
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CiY2jJggYM0
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hHh7JUTsjig
HH
CRC
Good evening friends.
A very sad day. I first lurked on CQN just a few weeks after Martin became ill and was immediately struck by how different CQN was to any other blog I’d been on. But it was Martin’s story that got me hook line and sinker so I’m afraid that indirectly it’s his fault that you’ve had to put up with me ever since!
RIP Martin
Joe
A sad loss. Sincere condolences to Kano’s family and friends.
Thanks Paul67 for communicating the tragic news in such a fine way. I don’t know Martin or too much about his dreadful condition, but I expect that it has been extremely tough for his immediate family for the last few years. I hope they will now experience a sense of relief despite their awful loss.
oldtim67
Lovely post my man.
tully57
15:52 on
9 January, 2015
thomthethim
Good to see you back posting, Vive La Difference indeed….
Sorry I never it made it to Gweedore for the West Donegal CQN Winter Meeting on the New Years Day – I was still kyboshed from the North Atlantic Sea Dip I took in Keadue earlier that day and then captured by my cousins in a Burtonport pub…. Next Dun na nGall visit definitely…..
******
You were there in spirit(s), my friend.
That time of year is very difficult to make firm arrangements, especially when, like yourself, the time is short.
Árd Macha was another absentee, although it was later reported that he was poured into Sharkey’s at some stage.
I read earlier that he intends to join the Travelling Winklepicker Roadshow when it hits his home town.
God help them!
Noel and his son and a possible candidate for son in law were in good form and,as usual, the best of company.
Will meet up in the summer. D.V.
RIP Martin
Oldtim
We’ll said, we have become one big family thanks to P67 and Martin Kane
No need to salt the dinner tonight thanks to the videos put up by CRC
Gabriel in Belfast
14:42 on 9 January, 2015
What a Grand 1st post ,
Dont be a stranger ,you have much to offer CQN.
oldtim67
Well said Sir
oldtim,
Your memory is still pretty good – the initial meeting of Bringing Martin Home was in BBs on 20 June 2009. The only names you missed were Lennondinho18 and ferryman.
But to list everyone who helped out would be impossible. It was literally a cast of thousands.
ttt – I text Mr 90 the sad news earlier.
Glad to hear he was in good form in Donegal !
bt – maybe more light hearted posts a bit later?! The blog today is a great tribute to Martin.
T4
R.I.P. KANO
YNWA
thomthethim for Oscar OK,
I blame the wife, she was supposed to be my lift to Sean Ógs but had over indulged the night before. What is it with these people, I’ll never understand it.
By the way, just to correct you. I was poured into AND out of Sharkey’s, all courtesy of Charlie Mac…Hic!!
#DryJanuaryCSC
Árd Macha
BT – sorry mate, that wasn’t a dig. Just a suggestion for the blog this evening!
HH
TTTT
Sorry T4
we have lost a few good men from Cqn.
BT,
Indeed we have, god bless them all
BT – might just have to drink a few toasts to them this evening!
Not that you or I ever needed an excuse. ;-)
T4
Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way
16:16 on 9 January, 2015
_____________________
Hand on heart…..any time that I come onto the blog, I scroll past all the charity stuff….thinking that – “…ach well, I’ve thrown the odd £10 in a bucket so – I’ve done my bit.”…an fast-forward to duel with all the happy-clappers. I’m being truthful and, it’s killing me inside to admit that I’m a bad person for not paying attention to the details. Your – youtube clips of Martin have sent me on one mega-guilt trip(is that a catholic thing?)…even though I’m lapsed? Your clips of Martin Kane make me feel terrible about myself for – not doing enough and, ye know what?….I thank you for that. This is one strange, sad day.
Thank you – Hail Hail
afternoon all.
like many on here I never had the pleasure in debating with kano on here,but I do know this…in kano we have just lost one of our own…..martin, you are with the lord now, but what a helluva legacy you have left…..GOOD NIGHT MO CHARA..