Some of the incredible people from the WeeOscar4Life campaign spoke to Stephen and Leona Knox and asked if it would be appropriate to submit an article to CQN for today, the first anniversary of Oscar’s passing.
What started in the Celtic community went worldwide and had a profound effect on Oscar, his family and the wider community. We lost Oscar, but there is a legacy which continues to help children similarly afflicted. It’s right that you should read the effect of what you did for Oscar, and what continues to be done in his name.
This is the article:
To Stephen and Leona he was their son, to Izzie he was her brother to the rest of the world he was known and revered as ‘Wee Oscar’ however Oscar Knox was also known ‘Bravest boy in the World’, ‘an inspiration to a Nation’ and ‘the boy who united Northern Ireland’.
Oscar’s story first came to light on the Celtic Quick News blog where Stephen (Knoxy2000) posted about Oscar’s fight against cancer. A number of CQNer’s decided they wanted to help and this is where WeeOscar4Life started. The WeeOscar4Life campaign team organised various fundraising events and activities for the Oscar Knox Appeal. Collections that raised in excess of £2,800; CQN badges raised over £3,600; however there has been one event so far that completely surpassed all expectations and really proved beyond doubt that the Celtic supporters are amongst the most generous in the World.
On Saturday 22nd September 2012 at Celtic’s game against Dundee at Celtic Park, over 200 volunteers collected money on behalf of the WeeOscar4Life campaign as part of the Oscar Knox Appeal. Wee Oscar’s Green Bucket Army raised an astonishing £32,000 in just two. When you include a very successful race night at Celtic Park and a sponsored cycle to Belfast; the WeeOscar4Life campaign raised well in excess of £100,000 for the Oscar Knox Appeal.
Stephen and Leona had made the decision that a proactive social media campaign would be their best chance of raising the much needed money to enable Oscar to be sent to America or Germany for the specialist treatment that would give him the best chance of beating the neuroblastoma cancer. The Oscar Knox Appeal raised the £250,000 target in just 3 months and has raised over £700,000 now in total. The profile of their campaign and appeal ensured that Oscar’s story became news the world over.
The WeeOscar4Life campaign also relied heavily on social media to raise awareness of our events. Our campaign team was just a few therefore the support and help of the wider online community was essential. Every one of the WeeOscar4Life campaign team would like to personally thank and show our appreciation to everyone who shared our calls for help. Most of all, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you to each and every person who made donations.
Something that you should be aware (and extremely proud) of is that when you raised £32,000 at the Green Bucket Army collection, your money was the catalyst and final piece of the jigsaw that made it possible for Oscar to fly to America for the specialist treatment he so desperately needed.
As it turned out the trip to America did not go to plan and very quickly Oscar’s health deteriorated to the point that the Doctors didn’t believe Oscar would survive the night. God knows how Stephen and Leona coped being stuck many thousands of miles from home with a bunch of strangers and having to watch their son slip away in front of their eyes. However Oscar showed that fighting Irish spirit and that Fearless determination and somehow pulled through. Unfortunately due to the medical complications that Oscar had developed he was unable to receive the specialist treatment he so desperately needed and had to return home where it was unclear what the next steps in Oscars treatment were and all that remained was a massive £250k medical bill and a wee boy that now had even more medical complications and battles ahead.
But as we all know Oscar had already proven what a fighter he was and amazingly his health did improve and even more amazingly during the early months of summer 2013 Stephen and Leona had announced that to the surprise of everyone that tests had shown that Oscar was cancer free.
Normal Life would mean that Oscar would be able to go back to playgroup again and the thoughts turned to planning Oscar’s step up to the big school in September. In May 2013 Oscar had the chance to spend time in his new school, meet his teachers and classmates, and even get fitted for his new uniform. This trip to school meant the world to Oscar and his extremely proud family.
The summer of 2013 and normal life involved a short holiday at Centerparks which the family absolutely loved, and then a short break in Scotland, where they were able to visit family and friends. There was also the Champions League qualifier against Cliftonville at Celtic Park where Oscar was the Celtic mascot.
Watching Oscar come out onto the pitch hand in hand with Captain Scott Brown was a moment that the thousands who attended will never forget. The moment that Oscar ran to hug Hoopy will be the lasting memory for hundreds of thousands if not millions of people across the world. Although I think that Stephen enjoyed his time just as much as Oscar and taking penalties into the Celtic end goal after the game gave him a smile almost as big as Oscar’s.
Sadly shortly after returning home from their time in Scotland Stephen and Leona knew that something was not quite right with Oscar’s health so back to hospital and their specialist they had to go. Their Doctor informed them that the cancer had returned; this was going to prove to be Oscar’s biggest battle of all.
Despite the earlier disappointment of having to postpone Oscar’s primary 1 start in September 2013, due to his chemotherapy and hospital treatment, he finally got his biggest wish when he was able to start school on the 7th January 2014. Leona says “If it was possible, Stephen and I wore even prouder smiles than this as we drove him to school on that first morning.”
In March 2014 Leona and Stephens worst fears were realised when scans revealed that the neuroblastoma had overrun Oscar’s wee body – devastating news. But this wonderfully dedicated and kind couple never gave up hope for Oscar’s sake and it’s obvious that Stephen and Leona’s ability to maintain a positive environment around Oscar contributed immensely to Oscar wonderful positivity.
On Thursday 8th May 2014 Oscar sadly lost his two and a half year battle with Cancer and passed away at the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice in his Mum and Dad’s arms. The news broke with a message from the family saying “Our beautiful amazing and much loved Son Oscar James Knox gained his angel wings yesterday afternoon. Sleep tight little man xx #TeamOscarForever”. It seemed like the whole world was grieving with Stephen, Leona, Izzie and their entire family with literally thousands upon thousands of Facebook and Twitter messages being sent to the official Wee Oscar accounts.
The hundreds of ordinary people who came to honour and show their love and pay their respects to Oscar were joined by prominent politicians and sports personalities including, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Belfast boxers Carl Frampton and Paddy Barnes and award-winning restaurateur Michael Deane amongst others.
Hundreds of people lined the streets, some gave polite applause when Oscar passed, Police Officers saluted, people took off their hats and bowed and some held homemade banners. One of these banners read “You’ll Never Walk Alone RIP Oscar #TeamOscar Brave to the very end”. Little children many wearing football kits and tops of many teams including Celtic, Cliftonville and Rangers were seen; but football was irrelevant and rivalries were forgotten as everyone came to show their love for Oscar and their solidarity with Stephen, Leona and Izzie.
The funeral mass was a wonderful celebration of Oscar’s short life and proved to be a very fitting send off. Near the end of the service both Stephen and Leona said a few words and they both spoke with a dignity, compassion and bravery that is hard to comprehend. They are truly amazing people and wonderful parents. While people applauded Stephen and Leona’s courage and heartfelt words I suspect the congregated masses were also saying to them ‘thank you for letting us be part of your beautiful family’s and especially Oscar’s life’.
On the same day as Oscar’s funeral Celtic played Dundee Utd in the final game of the SPFL Premiership season; the day that Celtic would be presented with the League trophy; a day that would have been emotionally charged at the best of times however on this day it was even more emotional. The Celtic players all wore black armbands, before the game started a tribute was displayed on the big screens as they played “You’ll never walk alone” over the PA system. RIP Oscar Banners were displayed throughout the stadium showing their love and support for Oscar. One of the most poignant and appropriate was displayed by the Green Brigade that said “Heart of a Lion – Courage of a Champion – RIP Oscar”. On the 5th minute (Oscar’s age) the entire stadium got to their feet to applaud; including the Celtic management team and substitutes in the dugout in what was a genuine show of respect, love and acknowledgement of what a personality and amazing bhoy that Oscar was. After the applause turned to another chorus of “You’ll never walk alone”.
The final celebration of Oscars life was a service at Roselawn Crematorium the following day in South Belfast which was predominantly attended by family and close friends; however just like his funeral mass there were a few notable and instantly recognisable public figures there including Celtic’s Kris Commons and his partner Lisa Hague who have both been wonderful supporters of the Oscar Knox Appeal as well as Jordan O’Keefe the Britain’s Got talent finalist who wore his #TeamOscar wristband with pride throughout every round of the live TV shows which helped to raise massive awareness for Oscars plight.
Quite a few people have repeated Stephens words that “Oscar achieved more in his 5 and a half short years that most of us ever will in a lifetime” and how true these words are; some of this “big man for a wee mans” achievements include raising global awareness of neuroblastoma, increasing blood donations across the UK and Ireland, bringing diametrically opposed politicians together and being the catalyst for the first ever professional boxing event to be hosted in Belfast City Hall. He inspired people from many Countries across the world to go out and fundraise (which they did to the tune of just over £700,000 for the Oscar Knox Appeal) and even in death Oscar continues to inspire people to donate to worthwhile causes with over £36,000 raised within days for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and Children’s Haematology Unit in his memory.
These are just some of the things that Oscar achieved, however without doubt Oscar’s greatest legacy is that he made us better people! You could not help but be inspired to be happier and smile a bit more than we normally would, to be more courageous and determined (given what Oscar was going through everything else paled into insignificance) and if nothing else just to be a better person I mean how could you not be inspired to be a better person?
WeeOscar4Life was set-up to help Oscar and his amazing family get through the tough time of raising money to help Oscar get the much needed treatment that in the end he was sadly unable to get despite the truly heroic efforts of Stephen and Leona. Oscar will forever be in the hearts and minds of many people around the World and we are certain that memorials in many shapes and forms will be created for Oscar. The WeeOscar4Life team are delighted to say that with the support of many CQNer’s we have been able to create our own lasting memorial for Oscar with the installation of a Paving Stone at Celtic Park. However the true purpose of WeeOscar4Life means ‘for life’ and our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with our friends for life, Stephen, Leona and Izzie. Be assured that we will be here to walk with you on the next steps of your journey as friends.
It has been an honour and a privilege to have known Oscar and we are proud that you, Stephen and Leona, let us become a small part of your journey with Oscar and that we were able to share some of the highs and lows with you and your beautiful family.
Rest in Peace Champ, your smile and thumbs up will forever be treasured. Your bravery and inspirational fighting spirit an eternal legacy :’-)
To donate to the Oscar Knox Appeal use the following: http://www.justgiving.com/OscarAppeal
To donate to the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice use the following:
http://www.justgiving.com/remember/123577/Oscar-Knox
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Thought GMS might have started, but it’s Ronny’s call.
gerryfaethebrig
13:25 on 10 May, 2015
Text me when you crack it but make sure it’s after the game and I’ll join you…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Big season next year for Darnell Fisher
No natural wide men today so expect full backs to bomb on and it to be tight in the middle of the park.
Don’t see a lot of goals but Craig Thomson playing the part of Stevie Wonder
Bets on Ambrose Fisher first sub?
No Guidetti in the squad.
I reckon the boy is for the off.
Always on the cards really.
gerryfaethebrig
Agreed, the SFA must have shat themselves having to deal with two Irish men who wore their hearts on their sleeves
Gudetti is toast then? Hail Hail Hebcelt
TBB
The analysis you point to but as always it doesn’t tell the full story.
Labour was up against a number of falsehoods that it didn’t do enough to expose.
I fear some of this is structural in that some in the party want to believe them as well.
They allowed the following to become the common currency of political debate in the UK without doing enough to expose the base political lies that they are:
Labour caused the deficit / economic crash — Rubbish the economic crash has caused the deficit and the economic crash was caused by an American economy that had nothing to sell to the rest of the world apart from its debt.
Thank you Dubya Bush — You might have got elected in 2004 on the back of thin air but the trends generated then nearly destroyed western capitalism.
Anywhere the banking sector was either living an ego trip or running close to the edge was going to have problems — we foundered on these or similar issues.
Labour spent too much — absolute tripe, the deficit was less going into the Credit Crunch than Sha**er left in 97. GB was running a current spending surplus in 2007 in the face of an increasing strident tax avoidance strategy being orchestrated by the Big 4 Accountants and Barclays.
Dave the Rave and the Gimp have a long term economic plan — Total tripe, they ruined the recovery that GB / AD had managed to cobble together in 2009 / 2010. They then wasted 3 years scaring the plebs frat less with all the loose talk about cuts / austerity / slash and burn politics. They are making it up as they go along.
We have a meaningful recovery — Again nonsense squared, we have a dead cat bounce based on a housing revival and peasant level wages. Allegedly we have 2 million extra people employed, just a case we have the same amount of shovels so wages and productivity have tanked and we have the highest balance of trade deficit in living memory.
We have a low pound and still we can’t pay our way in the world.
March of the Makers — No chance, it is just a bad joke.
What we have is the “Return of the Takers” — the upper middle class and the City hoovering up what little progress has been made in the past few years.
1997 till 2010 — Labour ran the economy very well in the face of a huge amount of global pressures.
JM with the Forgers Gazette urging him on would have collapsed the economy in the face of the 2000 / 2001 financial pressures and then they would have been first into the Credit Crunch and last out. The Tories have been kept afloat by £375 bill of QE.
Worse than their friends in the city took the cash and then rigged the interest rate and commodities market to push up inflation where no excess demand existed.
Milli-E could have done better — but that is at the margin of the political situation we now have. The Tory press do the donkey work, they prepare the ground then they find some useful idiot to lead the way.
2010 = Clegg / The Guardian.
2015 = Vinegar T*ts and the Tartan Children’s Crusade.
They actually excelled themselves as the were useful both sides of the border.
Hoops 2-1 @ 7/1
Griff 1st goal @ 25/1
MON the HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS
Snake
Anthony Stokes isn’t in the squad that mean he’s off as well?
Surprised that young Fisher got the gig today instead of Efe but not disappointed as he always does pretty well.
McGinn will be a good test for him IF he is starting?
In these class unconscious days I am not goin’ to say ‘Come on the Hoops!’
However, I am confident my butler will make enough noise for both of us.
Yep Snake, I gave up on Guidetti weeks ago. I think we can safely say our 4 loanees, Tonev, Wakaso, Guidetti and Denayer will not be at Celtic Park next year.
I think Stokes will be sold to a Championship outfit, wouldn’t be shocked if Scepovic was sold either. Derk has a year left, contract cancelled by mutual consent is my guess there.
No room at Inn for Pukki, Balde, Dylan or the Fridge. Question mark over McGregor, maybe another Loan out.
Dbbia,
I’d have thought the butler would have been representing you at pittodrie of have you commissioned a second for that one ?
overseasbhoy
“Bets on Ambrose Fisher first sub?”
Its 50:50 with a Matthews:Fisher first sub, barring injuries elsewhere, of course
bournesouprecipe
Well Stokes is actually a Celtic player and there have been rumours he’s offski.
I like Stokes and I hope he stays.
The chat about Guidetti wanting huge wages at other clubs and the fact he is not our player would suggest he’s off.
DBBIA
In a restrained tennis clap sort of way, I’m sure.
No Double Entendres CSC
corkcelt
I liked the look of Wakaso early on but he faded out of the picture and I believe his club were wanted 2.5M for him.
Cannot see that if it is true.
That’s a lot of players you mentioned who may need to be replaced in some shape or form.
I’d prefer to see some of the academy players promoted.
I’m quite happy to leave the guessing out this year, I’m hoping there will be a few surprises and reprieves for a few of the players the majority think are for the off.
Auld heid
Have a great day amigo, my thoughts on the game today …….. Aberdeen will want this more than Celts, the difference I hope will be the Celtic Supporters they are different and special, with the Celtic Brigada we can win ✊
Looking good for the Man City voter in Last Man Standing as they go 1 up after 4 minutes (20 now played)
Ref Steven MacLean helped the other 4, myself included, to lose out at Ross County yesterday along with the Ross County players who had 18 shots (5 on target) but scored just once (from the spot)
Sorry, I thought Guidetti was a contracted Celtic player till the end of the season,
On his Celtic form he’ll be lucky to get Celtic wages, let alone the ‘huge’ wages maybe only his singing recitals merit.
I wonder if we should have picked Tonev just to add some spice to the mix :-)
madmitch,
Thanks for that, there are no enough people willing to take on the lies and expose the realities.
Fisher will have to be alert for Aberdeen’s not so secret tactic of Considine sneaking in at the back post.
It has been a feature of their games recently.
3 M for Derk Boerrigter……………………………Ajax must be laughing their heads off !!!!
Burgas Hoops
Did Neil Lennon not say that figure was incorrect?
Burgas..,
I remember the days leading up to and signing him as I was in Barcelona, I was speaking to and ajax supporter and posted his opinion on here, sick note you’ll be lucky to get 5 starters a season out of. Quite a few rubbished that information. Thereyouarenow
I did love CQN over the years and yearn for the day we can talk about everything as well as politics, too much politics methinks, just saying like, no need to fall out, win or lose an argument? Who cares, yes it’s good to articulate yir thoughts and win an argument, but this website becomes a lesser place if we lose our caring, social friendly way.
I can’t put my thoughts properly into words like some/ many can, but you all hopefully get my drift.
It was always about CELTIC
V
New article posted Celts
2-0 Man City.
Snake Plissken
13:58 on
10 May, 2015
Burgas Hoops
Did Neil Lennon not say that figure was incorrect?
________________________
3.5 M Euro’s was the figure mentioned on Ajax off/site at the time of us signing him.
Canamalar, i remember that post guy was on the button eh?
Vmhan – YNWA Wee Oscar
14:00 on
10 May, 2015
I did love CQN over the years and yearn for the day we can talk about everything as well as politics, too much politics methinks, just saying like, no need to fall out, win or lose an argument? Who cares, yes it’s good to articulate yir thoughts and win an argument, but this website becomes a lesser place if we lose our caring, social friendly way.
I can’t put my thoughts properly into words like some/ many can, but you all hopefully get my drift.
It was always about CELTIC
agree 100%
HH
Sky Sports showing their usual regard for Scottish Football, lets carry on with the golf, hang fire timmy.
There actually has been a new article started- no announcement on here.
The Live Updates article started at 13.55
In sheep land. No joy yet :-( Still trying.
Are Aberdeen lining up 3:5:2 or is Considine at LB with Hayes in midfield.
I consider Johnny Hayes to be one of their unsung players, especially since Pawlett has gone backwards after a sprightly start.