Kano, Rest in Peace

2068

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.

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  1. Great determination from Izzy gets the ball in , Griffiths crowded

     

     

    Great ball to McGregor from Leigh, should have scored.

     

     

    PSV tempo dropping, chance for us to up ours

     

     

    Mike is right beside our fans, a woman nearly burst my eardrums there!

  2. sixtaeseven - je suis charlie on

    young Nesbit getting a chance.

     

    Good to see the young lhads getting game time.

     

     

    As I type, Joe Thompson coming on for InTheNetti (limping off, been in the wars despite not creating much…)

  3. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    BT

     

     

    I’m just imagining the size of cloak we would need for you :-)

     

     

    ACGR-many happy and indeed belated returns

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  4. Leigh Griffiths showing the right attitude, try hard in every game

     

     

    McGregor off for a youngster(not sure who)

     

    Guiddetti off injured, Thomson on

  5. setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox

     

     

     

    13:43 on 10 January, 2015

     

     

     

    The Lurkin Tim

     

     

    Most posts that most people make are ignored because

     

     

    What they said was uncontroversial

     

    They did not need to be seconded

     

    They did not need a reply

     

    They were not understood

     

     

    A blog is where you are allowed to make a point not demand attention.

     

     

    I made a bad taste joke and was vilified, that’s acceptable, but to call my parentage/upbringing into the mix, well that’s never…..;-))

     

     

    H.H.

  6. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    CRC

     

    Another few pounds added after 4 months idle, go said no swimming or cycling so I’ll need 001 and wee fras cloaks to cover me

  7. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    BT

     

     

    How was the week from hell then? I was delighted when Friday 4pm came. Long week and up in the Land of Nessie early next week, weather permitting.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  8. coneybhoy

     

     

    13:59 on 10 January, 2015Last shot of our fans showed a lad drinking water.Standards dropping off the pitch!

     

    VG

  9. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Bada Bing, its just work mate. I could do without it tbh. My mrs is a bit unwell just now.

     

     

    CRC, cheers dude:-)

  10. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Crc

     

    Phased return

     

    10 till 2.30 till end of month then back full time February all things going well of course

     

     

    Jamie Lindsay now

  11. macanbheatha Oscar Abú on

    coneybhoy

     

     

    13:59 on 10 January, 2015

     

    Last shot of our fans showed a lad drinking water.

     

     

    Standards dropping off the pitch!

     

     

    Wastrels!

  12. sixtaeseven - je suis charlie on

    Lack of chances for us is a wee bit concerning…

     

    5min to go

     

    A goal will come

     

    ;o)

  13. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Tom

     

    I’ll fill details and see what happens…

     

     

    Sunderland player red carded bad decision by ref imo

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