Boston Residents Uniting to Raise Funds for Sick Girl from Ireland

A group of Boston residents, including two brothers from Charlestown, are coming together this Friday night to help raise money for medical care for a toddler from Ireland battling cancer. 

Alisha Savage, a 3-year-old native of Cork, Ireland, fell ill at age 2, having been diagnosed with a viral infection and later diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. She is currently undergoing treatment at Dana Farber in Boston, according to Dennis Callahan and his brother Brian, both of whom were raised in Charlestown and have helped organize an upcoming fundraiser to support Savage and her family. 

"Boston Strong has re-taught us all a lot of valuable lessons," said Brian Callahan, an attorney with Callahan & Associates in the Charlestown Navy Yard. "One of them is to reach out a hand to a person or child in need. Boston is coming together this Friday night to help 3-year-old Alisha and her family, who have come to this country in search of desperately-needed medical help. Alisha's bills are astronomical. Together we can make a difference." 

The fundraiser event is set to be held this Friday, May 9 at the Florian Hall at 55 Hallet St. in Dorchester, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 each, and donations are being sought for a raffle.  

All proceeds are meant to benefit Savage and her family via the Tye Medical Foundation to help alleviate the cost of travel, accommodations, maintenance and medical treatment. 

"Through contacts provided to me by my brother-in-law, the Ray Tye Medical Foundation has agreed to pay for Alisha's medical treatment for the next six months," Brian Callahan said. "However, the cost of Alisha's care is astronomical."

Friday's event will welcome the music of Irish folk band Inchicore and singer/songwriter Dennis O'Gorman serving as the master of ceremonies. 

In addition to the Boston fundraiser, another gathering will be held in Cork, Ireland, as both communities overseas have coordinated the events to run on the same night. 

For more information on Friday's fundraiser, click here.