Occasions like this happen all the time without us even knowing.
Johnny Sexton wanted it that way, after his wonderful deed on Monday, April 3, but he understood it would get a super charity some much-needed exposure if they shared the story.
Barry Rice of Cycle Ataxia was delighted when the Ireland outhalf gave him the okay to spread the word. It is definitely a story worth sharing.
Earlier this year, Sexton had offered Rice the Ireland match jersey he wore in Ireland’s 2016 Six Nations victory over Scotland – a game in which he kicked 15 points. When Rice, who set up Cycle Ataxia to raise funds for Friedreich’s Ataxia research and patient care, asked if he would present the jersey to a worthy winner, the reply was “Of course”.
Sunshine 106.8 FM, ran a promotion asking for listeners to nominate someone who would love to get their hands on the jersey and who had a real passion for rugby. The lucky recipient was Billy Murray, a life-long fan of Leinster and Ireland.
Murray had been battling cancer for years but, unfortunately, the disease was terminal having spread to his stomach. One of his main solaces was following Leinster’s journey and he was overjoyed to see them beat Wasps in the Champions Cup quarter finals.
That joy was surpassed when Murray got to meet Sexton and had his newly-won jersey signed. Sexton had offered to visit Murray at home if he was unable to travel but the Leinster fan was in good enough condition to make it along to the Point Village studios with his son, Barry.
Sexton played the full 80 minutes in Leinster’s 32-17 victory over Wasps and received treatment for a troublesome shoulder. He re-lived so many moments of the match with an eager Murray and looked forward to the final few games of the season. Rice says:
“Johnny posed for several pictures with myself, Billy and presenter Enda Murphy. He also kindly and patiently waited and posed for pictures with some of the station’s presenters and staff members, as a queue began to form outside the small studio.”
Rice tells us several rugby players have been giving of their time, and kit, in recent years but many of them often blanch at the idea of making a show about it. Once he learned that sharing the pictures and story would help raise awareness of Cycle Ataxia and its cause, he gave Rice his blessing.
You’d expect nothing less from Sexton.
On Saturday, April 22, Murray passed away at Beaumount Hospital. His funeral will take place at the Church of the Resurrection, Bayside this Friday.
Cycle Ataxia’s annual leisure cycle will take place on June 17. To learn more please visit their website here.
*Updated from story first posted on April 4
