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Details
Fullname: Oscar Knox
Born: 10 September 2008
Died: 8 May 2014 (5 years old)
Birthplace: County Antrim, N Ireland
Biog
There has never been anybody who has touched the hearts of the Celtic supporters as much as the young Oscar Knox, who despite the tragedy that underlay his situation, brought much happiness and tears of joy to everyone who happened to meet him or read upon him.
We all have families and loved ones and understand the love, fun and tantrums that arise from it all but we wouldn’t swap it for anything else. We cherish our loved ones and would have it no other way. However, for the Oscar Knox family tragedy was to strike when they discovered that their young child, Oscar, was diagnosed with cancer.
Through the trials and tribulations, this working class family from Ulster worked hard to raise awareness of his condition and across all communities he was helped with donations and showered with love.
His family were Celtic fans, and the club and its supporters paid respect and support to the young bhoy. He was the guest of honour & team mascot at the Celtic v Cliftonville matches in the European Cup, and it melted your hearts to see him so happily playful on the pitch.
He touched everyone’s hearts, and despite having once fought off the Cancer, it returned and he sadly passed away in May 2014.
It is better to remember this young bhoy for the strength in him for fighting his illness, and he was brave. His beautiful wee happy similing face and his strength in adversity is something we should all admire, and we are all very humbled by him.
Proud to be able to number him as a Celtic Bhoy, and to his family & all their friends, our sincere condolences. You’ll never walk alone.
Links
- 2013-07-17: Cliftonville 0-3 Celtic, European Cup
- 2013-07-23: Celtic 2-0 Cliftonvillie, European Cup
Celtic family mourns brave Bhoy Oscar Knox
By: Newsroom Staff on 09 May, 2014 09:23
http://www.celticfc.net/news/5849
OSCAR Knox, the brave little Bhoy from Belfast whose courageous fight against cancer touched the hearts of the Celtic Family, has passed away at the age of five.
At this desperately sad time, the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with his parents, Stephen and Leona, his little sister, Izzie, and all of his family and friends.
The devastating news was announced by the family this morning. They said: ‘Our beautiful, amazing and much-loved son, Oscar James Knox gained his angel wings yesterday afternoon. Sleep tight little man Xx.’
Oscar was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer, back in November 2011. And over the next few years, his courage, bravery and spirit inspired people throughout the world.
The Celtic Family responded to the fundraising appeal of Oscar’s parents, and more than £600,000 was raised to fund specialist treatment for Oscar.
And last July, when Belfast side, Cliftonville, came to Glasgow for their UEFA Champions League qualifier, Oscar proudly donned his green and white Hoops and led Celtic out before the game as team mascot alongside captain, Scott Brown.
Sadly, towards the end of March this year, Oscar’s condition deteriorated, and his family announced that he was moving into a hospice.
Celtic’s recent home game against Ross County saw supporters offer a minute’s applause during the match in support of Oscar as fans sent their best wishes to the brave little bhoy and his family.
Sadly, on Thursday, Oscar lost his battle with the illness that he had fought with incredible bravery for one so young.
Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “This is absolutely devastating news and our thoughts and prayers are with Oscar’s parents, Stephen and Leona, and his little sister, Izzie, at this desperately sad time.
“We can’t even begin to understand the pain of their loss, but I hope that there will be a small measure of consolation in knowing that there was genuine love and affection for Oscar from the Celtic Family throughout the world.
“Oscar’s courage throughout his illness was truly inspirational, and it was a real pleasure for everyone at the club to meet Oscar when he was our team mascot last July.
“This is a very sad day for the Celtic Family but, more importantly, for the Knox family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them today.”
Oscar Knox: Mallusk boy ‘Wee Oscar’ dies after cancer battle
Oscar Knox Five-year-old Oscar Knox passed away on Thursday
BBC
Oscar Knox, the County Antrim boy whose long battle against an aggressive form of cancer captured the hearts of many people in Northern Ireland, has died.
Oscar, who was five, died on Thursday after a two-and-a-half year battle with neuroblastoma.
His family launched the Oscar Knox Appeal campaign during his illness.
On Friday they tweeted: “Our beautiful, amazing and much loved son Oscar James Knox gained his angel wings yesterday afternoon. Sleep tight little man.”
In a full statement, his family said: “Oscar has brought unimaginable joy to our family with his smile and his infectious personality.
“Our little superhero achieved so much in his short life and inspired so many people throughout the world to do so many amazing things. It is something we are incredibly proud of.
Continue reading the main story
Remembering Oscar
image of Peter Coulter Peter Coulter BBC News NI
I was walking down a street in Belfast city centre about a year ago when a mother was walking along with her young child.
The child stopped and looked at a picture of Oscar Knox in a shop window and asked his mother why that little boy had no hair.
She explained that he was very sick and told her son he was being treated for cancer and that had made his hair fall out. The child nodded and asked a few more questions with this new understanding of cancer.
It was two years ago when BBC News NI first met Oscar Knox and since then his family has tirelessly campaigned to raise awareness of high risk neuroblastoma and the importance of blood donations.
His parents Stephen and Leona began their Twitter account to provide a support network for other parents whose children had the same condition.
Raising awareness has always been top of his parents list. Blood donations in NI and understanding of high risk neuroblastoma did increase during their campaign.
Oscar Knox was a normal five-year-old who loved pizza, Sugarpuffs, playing with his sister Izzy, Scooby Doo and Spiderman.
Oscar loved his doctors and nurses and they adored him. It will be a tough time for the medical staff who have supported him over the last two and a half years.
“We wish to take this opportunity once again to thank all of Oscar’s followers the world over for everything they have done for us and for the wonderful kindness and generosity that has been shown.
“We also want to thank the teams at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and NI Children’s Hospice whose kindness and compassion has been nothing short of amazing.
“Nothing can ever take the pain away but knowing we were supported so much and that Oscar was loved so much, brings great comfort.”
The family have asked for privacy in the coming days.
A ceremony, described as a “celebration of Oscar’s life”, will be held in St Bernard’s Church, Glengormley, on Sunday, 11 May.
“We welcome friends, family and supporters of Oscar to join us in procession from the NI Children’s Hospice at 10.15am on May 11 and onwards to St Bernard’s Church.”
Oscar was first diagnosed with the disease in November 2011.
After intensive treatment, ‘Wee Oscar’ was finally given the all clear in April 2013, but it returned in August 2013.
In October 2012, he received specialist treatment in America after his family reached their £250,000 fundraising target to pay for the immunotherapy treatment.
After his initial diagnosis, his parents set up the Twitter account so they could update friends and family on Oscar’s condition each time he was in hospital.
However, the account quickly attracted thousands of followers.
Among them were families whose children have the same condition.
The Twitter account became a phenomenon in June 2012, after a group of Irish football fans posed for pictures in Dublin airport before heading off to the European football championship with a flag saying “Angela Merkel thinks we’re at work”.
Celtic fan
Oscar – who had been allowed to stay up late to watch the matches – and his father Stephen, made their own flag saying “My ma thinks I’ll be in bed early” and then tweeted a picture of it.
The ‘Merkel lads’, as they became known, were so touched by the picture they decided to auction their flag to raise money for the toddler.
When they arrived back in Dublin they drove straight from the airport to Mallusk to meet Oscar
Oscar, was a fan of Glasgow Celtic and the football club joined in the fundraising campaign.
Last July, when Belfast side, Cliftonville, went to Glasgow for their UEFA Champions League qualifier, Oscar donned his green and white shirt and led Celtic out before the game as team mascot alongside captain, Scott Brown.
Oscar Knox
In a statement on Friday, Celtic said: “This is absolutely devastating news and our thoughts and prayers are with Oscar’s parents, Stephen and Leona, and his little sister, Izzie, at this desperately sad time.
“We can’t even begin to understand the pain of their loss, but I hope that there will be a small measure of consolation in knowing that there was genuine love and affection for Oscar from the Celtic family throughout the world.
“Oscar’s courage throughout his illness was truly inspirational, and it was a real pleasure for everyone at the club to meet Oscar when he was our team mascot last July.”
Belfast boxer Carl Frampton said it was very sad news.
“I’m kind of in shock, because with the wee man, I knew he was very, very sick, but you always expected him to get better because he is such a fighter,” he said.
“It’s just heart-breaking.”
‘Wee’ Oscar Knox dies after battle against childhood cancer neuroblastoma
Book of Condolence: To leave your messages of sympathy to little Oscar’s family please use the comment box below
Source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/wee-oscar-knox-dies-after-battle-against-childhood-cancer-neuroblastoma-30259124.html
09 May 2014
In a tweet this morning, his family said: “Our beautiful amazing and much loved son Oscar James Knox gained his angel wings yest afternoon. Sleep tight little man Xx.”
The news comes weeks after Oscar was moved into the care of the Children’s Hospice following his two-year battle against the disease.
At that time, the five-year-old’s suffering was so great that he told his parents: “I don’t want to be a boy anymore.”
In the latest update to an online diary documenting Oscar’s fight, Leona wrote: “In the past four weeks Oscar has suffered more pain than we could have imagined, and more anguish than any five-year-old should ever know.”
She said that she and her husband Stephen had been “pushed to the limit of what any parent could tolerate in terms of watching their child suffer”.
JustGiving page in memory of Oscar Knox
The family have asked for privacy in the coming days.
Tweets about “#TeamOscarForever OR #WeeOscar OR #OscarKnox”
Oscar’s funeral, which the family have said will be a “celebration” of his life, will be held in St Bernard’s Church, Glengormley, on Sunday.
In a statement, the family said: “We welcome friends, family and supporters of Oscar to join us in procession from the NI Children’s Hospice at 10.15am on May 11 and onwards to St Bernard’s Church.”
A strictly private cremation will follow.
An appeal by Oscar’s family raised hundreds of thousands of pounds over the last three years. The campaign won many high-profile friends and memorably Oscar wreaked havoc during a visit to the offices of Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont.
First Minister Peter Robinson said: “I extend my heartfelt sympathies to Leona, Stephen, little Isobella and the entire Knox family on the death of Oscar. My thoughts and prayers are with them all at this profoundly sad time.
“Their sense of loss and devastation is immeasurable. When I met Oscar I was struck by his infinite energy and sense of fun. He had a tremendous capacity to overcome the challenges he and his family faced together.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: “Oscar touched the hearts and minds of everyone and inspired countless people through his positive attitude and resilience.
“The day Oscar and his family visited Stormont was one of my most uplifting days in politics and you couldn’t help but be enthused by his vibrancy and spirit.”
In a statement today, Celtic Football Club said: “This is absolutely devastating news and our thoughts and prayers are with Oscar’s parents, Stephen and Leona, and his little sister, Izzie, at this desperately sad time.
“We can’t even begin to understand the pain of their loss, but I hope that there will be a small measure of consolation in knowing that there was genuine love and affection for Oscar from the Celtic Family throughout the world.
“Oscar’s courage throughout his illness was truly inspirational, and it was a real pleasure for everyone at the club to meet Oscar when he was our team mascot last July.”
Former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan tweeted: “Very sad news to hear of the passing of @Wee_Oscar RIP he fought to the bitter end, what an amazing young boy. Deepest sympathies to family.””
Little Oscar has touched the hearts of people with his brave fight since being diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma – a rare and aggressive childhood cancer – in November 2011.
His parents went public in a bid to raise awareness and funds for Oscar’s care.
A huge support campaign was launched, backed by celebrities and sports stars including Belfast Olympic medal-winning boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan.
Since early 2012 Stephen and Leona have kept an online diary of Oscar’s fight.
Background
In 2011 Oscar Knox (5), from Mallusk, was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, which affects one in every 100,000 children. He also has the chromosome disorder Jacobsen syndrome, which is thought to affect only 250 children worldwide.
Oscar has received more than 30 blood transfusions and almost 140 platelet transfusions in the past 26 months. Oscar’s parents Stephen and Leona run a blog and fundraising campaign, The Wee Oscar Knox Appeal. Around 140,000 people follow Oscar on Facebook and Twitter @Wee_Oscar
From Celtic 3-1 Dundee Utd, League, 11 May 2014
