Father lines up boxers for Royal Rumble in Cookstown as a tribute to his lost son

A Rock man, who lost his 10-month-old son following an operation to close a hole in his heart, has since put his all into raising money for the hospital charity that helped little Eoin during his final days.
Baby Eoin Cush, the inspiration for the Royal Rumble, he passed away five years ago after an operation to fix a hole in his heartBaby Eoin Cush, the inspiration for the Royal Rumble, he passed away five years ago after an operation to fix a hole in his heart
Baby Eoin Cush, the inspiration for the Royal Rumble, he passed away five years ago after an operation to fix a hole in his heart

Eamonn Cush, who now lives in Stewartstown with his wife Nicola and their daughters Caoimhe, 2, and 14-month-old Naoimh, has so far raised around £7,000 for Helping Hand at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

But five years on from Eoin’s death, Mr Cush said he wanted to do something special, and has decided to climb the world’s highest freestanding peak - Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa - next September.

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In order to raise the money for Helping Hand in the run up to his climb, Eamonn said he will be putting on a series of events, starting with a Royal Rumble Fight Night at Cookstown’s Glenavon House Hotel on November 8.

“Five years ago my son Eoin died after going through heart surgery so I wanted to do something big this year for the hospital,” he told the Mail, “because I saw how good the staff were and how the money will be put to good use.

“I saw that Helping Hand - that’s the charity for the Children’s Hospital - were advertising the climb of Kilimanjaro so I put my name forward for it, then I thought this [Royal Rumble] would be a good event for fund-raising.”

To support his cause, he has managed to persuade around 20 men, both boxers and amateurs, to get in the ring. They will face each other in 10 separate fights at the Royal Rumble Fight Night, and every penny will go to Helping Hand in memory of baby Eoin.

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special guest boxers Jamie Conlan, Paddy Gallagher and Conrad Cummings and Donegal gaelic footballer Eamon McGee have been confirmed, with more news of what’s happening on the night coming next week...