Boy (4) born with development delay who battled cancer now leading Irish charity campaign

Sunday World

08-08-2025

FUNDRAISER |
Parents Sandra and Ruairí are so grateful for the support they get from children's charity and are hoping to raise much needed funds with the annual supercar show.
Brave Jude Mangan (4) was born with a rare condition called Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC). This is a congenital brain abnormality where the structure connecting the two sides of the brain is either partially or completely missing. Jude also completed treatment earlier this year for cancer that is unrelated to his condition.
Proud parents Sandra and Ruairí and big brother Cillian joined Jude to help Jack and Jill launch their new partnership with Cannonball — the supercar event travelling around Ireland from September 12-15. The family joined Radio Nova presenters PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe at the launch.
Jude Mangan (4) with his mum and dad, Sandra and Ruairi, and his big brother, Cillian (7) with Nova's PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe at the launch of Cannonball
'We wanted to give something back, now that Jude is healthy and we were in a position to,' says mum Sandra. 'Jude loves cars — he was delighted to get to be sitting in the car and we were delighted to be part of the campaign.'
Sandra and Ruairí, who live in Dublin and are both originally from Belmullet in Co Mayo, first discovered something was amiss with their youngest boy during a 20-week scan. 'The person doing the scan said to me at the end: 'I want to ask you to come back in again on Wednesday. There's something I can't locate and I need one of our consultants to take a better look at it'.'
When Sandra returned, it was confirmed that Jude was missing the corpus callosum, the membrane that links the left and right side of the brain. There was, she says, 20 weeks of not knowing what the impact would be on Jude until after he was born. Before he was born, medics were concerned about seizures, but to the family's relief these never materialised.
Jude has global developmental delay which means he takes longer to meet his milestones. He is non-verbal, needs round-the-clock care and cannot walk unaided. It means the milestones he does meet are all the more treasured.
Jude Mangan (4) with his mum and dad, Sandra and Ruairi, and his big brother, Cillian (7)
'He crawled on the landing last night,' says Ruairí. 'Just before giving him a bath I encouraged him to crawl to the bath. He crawled from the landing into the bathroom for the first time and we were absolutely thrilled.'
'We are confident he will walk because he has a little walker at the moment, and he's flying around in it,' adds Sandra. 'The more therapy he gets, the better he progresses.
'He's a great personality,' says Sandra. 'He's very funny. He loves a bit of devilment. He loves messing with his dad. He loves getting a rise out of us. He knows his own mind. While he's non verbal, we very much understand what he wants and what he doesn't want.
'He attends pre-school in Enable Ireland in Sandymount. It's not easy by any matter of means, but when he's in good form, you get a great kick out of him and he's the light of everyone's life. He loves being out and about. He loves meeting people. He gives them this little side smile — he looks away, and then he looks at them. Anybody that meets him, he just warms their heart. He has his interests — he loves Thomas the Tank Engine. He loves kicking a football around with his brother and going out and about with our neighbours' kids.'
Jude Mangan (4) with his mum and dad, Sandra and Ruairi, and his big brother, Cillian (7)
News in 90 Seconds - Aug 8th
The family found in the early days they were struggling with Jude's care needs and were advised by a friend to contact Jack and Jill. They're glad of the opportunity to 'give something back' to Jack and Jill, who introduced them to Jude's former nurse Sarah and current carer Belinda. — 'They have been a lifeline for us.'
In October 2023, a lump appeared on Jude's left jaw. The family sought medical help and when it wasn't cleared by antibiotics, Jude was sent for further investigation. A form of soft-tissue cancer tumour called RMS sarcoma was diagnosed and Jude underwent a comprehensive series of treatments including chemotherapy to treat the disease. Read more
Again, Jack and Jill proved an invaluable support. 'They provided respite and care for us as a family — not just for Jude. It also enabled us to spend time with Cillian.
'Jude finished treatment on New Year's Day in January 2025 and got his last chemo at home. He's had two scans since, and they've both been very positive.'
Jude Mangan (4) with his mum and dad, Sandra and Ruairi, and his big brother, Cillian (7) with Nova's PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe at the launch of Cannonball
Cannonball has already raised more than €2 million for Irish children's charities and brings a unique atmosphere to host towns all over the country, making it a widely anticipated free family event for spectators.
The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation is an Irish children's charity that funds and delivers in-home nursing care and respite support for children from birth to six years of age with severe learning disabilities often associated with complex medical needs.
There will be fundraising along the route for Jack and Jill throughout the weekend.
For more information on the charity and its work log on to jackandjill.ie