A family’s bitter loss three years ago when 16-year-old Eoghan Homan did not survive his medical battle has been carried forward to fundraise for research and shine a light on the complexities of the paediatric cancer experience.

Equally importantly, Eoghan’s parents, Colm and Niamh, and his sister, Aisling, can use their opportunity to share their story as a 2026 ambassador family for the global St Baldrick’s Foundation to bring solace to other families facing the same difficult journey.

“We’ll just keep going until there’s more awareness,” Mrs Homan said.

She spoke after her relationship with the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre caught the attention of St Baldrick’s, a powerful worldwide charitable fundraising force for childhood cancer research with a significant presence in Bermuda.

Paediatric cancer is rare, often leaving families in Bermuda confronting the diagnosis in a lonely position. Eoghan’s cancer, Ewing sarcoma, was far rarer still.

Mrs Homan said: “On the island, it’s very difficult, because with paediatric cancer, children are sent away for treatment, and for children that survive — they’re a young family; children have to go back to school and their day-to-day lives.

“It’s a busy time, and the island really doesn’t have a support group for paediatric cancer caregivers, parents and survivors. It’s a difficult one.”

Additionally, the drugs powerful enough to fight cancer are highly toxic, she said, complicating the recovery.

“There are issues with diabetes, heart problems, secondary cancers, and there isn’t a lot of awareness about that either.”

St Baldrick’s announced its five ambassadors this week. Each child represents a different story in the worldwide community.

Mr Homan said: “Each year, they will pick one child who has passed away. Through the work Niamh has been doing, and the link-up Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre has with St Baldrick’s, they became aware of our story and thought it resonated with what they’re looking to promote.”

Eoghan’s story will be highlighted through the foundation and its social media on February 10.

Beyond education and fundraising, Mr Homan said it marks “a chance to share our experience of being a family dealing with a child going through a cancer diagnosis, and helping people understand what that means”.

Eoghan was a distinguished runner, and shared the sport with his father.

In the years since, Mr Homan has taken his marathon running to fundraising heights in tandem with Boston Children’s Hospital, where Eoghan fought through 14 months of gruelling treatment.

Mr Homan said: “We had a high level of confidence that he was getting the best care he could, and the best chance that he would have.

“Unfortunately, one in five children diagnosed with cancer will not survive it. Eoghan was one of those five.”

In the marathon next week for the Bermuda Triangle Challenge, father and daughter will run together to fundraise for the Boston Children’s Hospital research fund named in Eoghan’s memory.

Mr Homan will run the full marathon, and join Aisling at the halfway mark.

He said: “We should be able to meet up and run the rest of it together — if I can keep up with her.

“It’s been really special that she’s taken to running with passion, having never run more than a mile just five months ago.

“It means a lot that she is going to be running for Boston Children’s Hospital and the fund we have named after Eoghan specifically targeting research into Ewing sarcoma and neuroblastoma, which we know are two of the rarer cancers.”

He added: “That’s one of the things St Baldrick’s has done a great job with, identifying projects specifically around those lesser-known cancers, so that there is hope for people that receive one of those diagnoses, and they’re able to work through it.”

Mr Homan said: “I think cancer should be almost redefined. There are so many that are totally treatable and it’s not the end of your life. Others are extremely severe.”

St Baldrick’s will proceed with its signature head-shaving fundraiser in March.

In the meantime, Eoghan’s family join the other work connected with the movement — sharing the lessons of their experience and joining the broader support network.

“It’s more than the fundraising,” Mrs Homan said. “It’s the awareness.”