A family who lost their son to cancer shared their heartbreaking journey during the 25th St Baldrick’s Bermuda fundraiser last night.

Niamh and Colm Homan’s son, Eoghan, died at age 16 from the rare Ewing sarcoma three years ago.

The global St Baldrick’s Foundation named the Somersfield Academy student as one of its five Global Ambassadors for 2026, the first ambassador to reside outside the US.

St Baldrick’s, which raises funds for childhood cancer research, stated that these ambassadors “help educate the public about why funding research is critical to finding cures and better, safer treatments for childhood cancers”.

Mrs Homan recalled when she and her family learnt that Eoghan had a mass “the size of a soda can” in his pelvis and went to Boston Children’s Hospital for treatment.

Ewing sarcoma develops in bones and surrounding tissue, typically impacts children and young adults and usually begins within the leg bones and pelvis.

Mrs Homan said: “We thought when we were going through this that when the first line of treatment didn’t work, there would be a second, third, fourth line and there were clinical trials, but that wasn’t the case.

“When we were told that the first line hadn’t worked and there were no other options, that was really tough.”

Mr Homan said: “The biggest part of the challenge is there isn’t the funding for paediatric cancer as there is for many other cancers, particularly those which impact adults.”

Eoghan recorded a video, which was played during last night’s fundraiser, for his classmates while in Boston.

St Baldrick’s Bermuda planned to raise $100,000 this year, but received more than $140,000 through online and in-person donations and the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre by 7.30pm.

Azuree Williams, liaison between the St Baldrick’s planning committee and the BCHC, said 31 people signed up to shave their heads this year, the highest number in a long time.

She said: “It has also been a while since we surpassed our $100,000 fundraising goal so quickly. We also have schools doing their own St Baldrick’s events for the first time in years.”

Mr Homan added: “Seeing kids getting shaved earlier on was really inspiring for us, because it’s kids helping kids, and it’s important that we as adults do our job and you have our commitment as advocates for continuing to find cures for kids’ cancers, particularly those that only impact kids, because you guys don’t have a voice.”

Amanda Darrell, science teacher at the Bermuda High School for Girls, braved the shave at the Docksider Pub and Restaurant for a third time and earned more than $4,000 through pledges.

She said: “I do it because it’s an easy way to raise money and support a good cause — three of my students signed up to shave their heads; all of them are awesome.”

James Casling-Hall, 12, shaved his head for the first time and raised more than $7,200 through pledges, almost doubling his $4,000 goal.

The Somersfield Academy student said: “I wanted to raise money for a good thing. I think other people should do so too because it’s a good deed.”

Ten per cent of funds raised during the St Baldrick’s Bermuda event benefited the BCHC’s SunSmart programme, aimed at reducing and preventing skin cancer on the island.