Family desperately fundraise after Cork dad-of-three diagnosed with rare cancer

Valerie Chute and her husband, Richard welcomed a baby boy just a few months ago - a new sibling to their two-year-old twin sons.

Three boys under two is a serious challenge for any parents- but then the unthinkable happened to this Cork family. Richard, a naval officer, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Immediately doctors began discussing a bone marrow transplant which Richard is scheduled to get in St James hospital in Dublin this October. The couple will now have to move to Dublin for the cancer treatment. This also means leaving their children, Eli, Joshua and Luke, behind because Richard will have no immunity to all the little bugs that come with smallies. In desperation, Valerie took to a crowdfunding page to try to raise the funds they will need to get through the year - full-time childcare, accommodation, transportation at the very least. She wrote: "it's all a bit hectic so it was suggested by a friend that this would be a good way to do a bit of fundraising to lessen the overall stress so I thought no harm in trying" Speaking to the Evening Echo recently, she also described her husband as "the bravest person she knew" So far they have raised 29 thousand euro and Valerie says they are unbelievably grateful: "Just so amazed at the support we are truly grateful - thank you so much, everybody, far and near" But costs continue to mount and the family say they appreciate any help they receive. If you would like to support the Chute family you can donate here (Feature mage via Richard Chute Facebook)