Nathan Carter and Daniel O’Donnell Among Stars Supporting Fundraiser for Six-Year-Old Battling Cancer
Irish country music icons Nathan Carter and Daniel O’Donnell are lending their voices—and their strength—to an extraordinary fundraiser inspired by six-year-old Noah Gooch, a Donegal boy courageously battling cancer.
The event, known as “Noah’s Bed Push,” will see a huge team of volunteers transport Noah’s hospital bed on a remarkable 250km journey from Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin to Letterkenny University Hospital in Donegal. Scheduled for next week, the effort aims to raise money for nine charities that played a vital role in Noah’s treatment and recovery.
A Story That Captured Hearts
Noah, who has Down Syndrome, was diagnosed with leukaemia in January. His treatment journey has involved life-saving care at both Crumlin and Letterkenny hospitals, as well as critical support from children’s health charities. The bed push was organized by Noah’s family as a way of saying “thank you” to the organizations who stood by them during the most difficult months of their lives.
His father, Lee Gooch, a well-known presenter on Highland Radio, recalled the terrifying moment they realized something was seriously wrong. “Noah had been complaining of sore legs and hips. That morning, when I got home, he was in the kitchen as white as a ghost trying to eat toast. Then he collapsed, and my wife Claire had to put him lying down again while waiting for the ambulance,” he explained.
Celebrity Support
Daniel O’Donnell, who has long been involved in charitable causes across Ireland, will join volunteers on the final leg of the journey into Letterkenny. “Little Noah Gooch’s story has certainly captured the hearts of people not just in Ireland but all over the world. I look forward to being part of the bed push, and I’ll see you please God in Letterkenny on Sunday, 22 August,” the singer said.
Fellow country star Nathan Carter also voiced his support, encouraging people to cheer on the volunteers as they pass through Tyrone. “I was very touched when I saw this story about young Noah… let’s get behind this cause and help make a huge difference,” he said.
The campaign has also attracted attention from across the sporting world, with golfer Pádraig Harrington, jockey Rachael Blackmore, and football legend Ray Houghton among those showing their support.
A Journey of Hope
The 250km trek will not only symbolize Noah’s resilience but will also serve as a rallying point for communities across Ireland. Volunteers will push the bed across towns and villages, with local residents expected to line the route in solidarity.
For Lee and Claire Gooch, the event is as much about raising awareness as it is about raising funds. “These charities offer support and guidance to families at a time when their worlds are turned upside down,” Lee said. “The bed push is our way of giving something back.”
How to Help
Funds raised will go directly to the hospitals and organizations that provide life-saving treatment and emotional support to children and their families.
As Noah’s bed makes its way home, it carries with it more than one child’s story — it embodies the strength of a community, the kindness of strangers, and the healing power of music, love, and unity.