Friends rally around Pelow

At the headiest of times for Irish hockey, the agony and ecstasy of the national sides chasing their Olympic dreams was put harrowingly into perspective this week. Chris Pelow, a member of the Corinthian club in Dublin and an Ireland representative at U16, U18 and A levels, now playing with Sydney University, underwent surgery in Australia on Wednesday to amputate one of his lower legs.

The operation was necessary to prevent the further spread of a synovial sarcoma, a very aggressive tumor which had developed in the 24-year-old’s foot and had been diagnosed just a week earlier. His hometown club have set up the Friends of Chris Pelow Fund to help support Chris and his family – who have flown to Sydney to be with him – with collections set to be made at club games in Leinster and Munster on March 31. Corinthian will provide participating clubs with collection packs including a collection box, posters and bank lodgement details. There is also a PayPal facility on their club website www.chc.ie for those further afield who want to make a contribution. Every penny raised will go to the Pelow family to help them defray those costs like travel and accommodation which insurance does not cover and to help Chris with his rehabilitation. ** For more details on getting involved, contact Sean Murtagh on smurtagh(at)ppiltd.com or Henry Micks on henrymicks(at)gmail.com