A Rangers-supporting nurse has made an extraordinary gesture to support a young child battling a serious illness by committing to walk 5k every day while wearing a Celtic jersey.
Rona Goodall, 39, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, felt compelled to act when she found out that her former nursing student friend’s two-year-old son, Tommy Quinn, had been diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma. Despite her personal allegiance, she vowed to do whatever it took to help.
As a forensic psychiatric nurse, Rona decided to walk 5k daily for two months – one month for each year of Tommy’s life. To add to the challenge, she opted to wear the jersey of her rival team, Celtic, in support of Tommy, a devoted Celtic fan.
Tommy, from Bishopbriggs, Dunbartonshire, received the devastating diagnosis around Easter. After an ultrasound at the Royal Hospital for Children, the radiologist informed his parents that they needed to see the doctor on the ward. His mother, Nicole, recalled thinking, “That doesn’t sound good,” but it never crossed their minds that cancer would be the diagnosis.
The neuroblastoma was found on Tommy’s adrenal gland, pressing against his kidney. Within weeks, the once active little boy was undergoing rounds of chemotherapy every 10 days, with an 18-month treatment plan ahead.
Tommy’s parents, David and Nicole Quinn, were heartbroken when they learned of his diagnosis. Despite this, Nicole joked about Tommy’s resilience, saying, “He’s wild. I keep thinking someone needs to tell him he’s sick!” Even after undergoing a stem cell transplant, Tommy’s spirit remains strong, carrying on with his day despite feeling ill.
Tommy is currently part of a clinical trial that requires two stem cell transplants, with his second scheduled for October 14. Research from the U.S. suggests that two transplants may lower the risk of the cancer returning, though European studies are limited, and Tommy is helping to determine whether one or two transplants are more effective.
Meanwhile, Nicole and her family are raising funds in case the treatment doesn’t work, with hopes of pursuing a new clinical trial in Barcelona.
Nicole, who works in child and adolescent mental health services in Drumchapel, said she would do anything to save her son. Though she hadn’t seen Rona in person since 2009, they stayed connected through Facebook. Rona, a dedicated Rangers fan, reached out, expressing her desire to help by walking daily for two months while donning a Celtic jersey.
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