Peter Kay has added a new date to his record-breaking UK arena tour to support a 19-year-old from Prenton on the Wirral who needs surgery for a heart condition he was born with.
The comedian will play Blackpool Opera House in aid of the All In For Fin campaign, which is trying to raise money for Fin Cormack's treatment. The announcement came on Wednesday, August 26, after Kay had already added nine new dates to the tour, stopping at Brighton, Blackpool, Cardiff and Hull.
Profits shared with charities
Profits from ticket sales for the additional shows will be shared equally between three charities, including The Lily Foundation, the UK's leading mitochondrial disease charity. The new dates were announced live by Peter Kay during an appearance on Sara Cox's BBC Radio 2 show on Wednesday, July 29, morning.
Now, the comedian has added a special show to help Fin Cormack, who is trying to raise around £250,000 for surgery for Ebstein's anomaly, a condition he was born with.
Peter Kay's message
Peter said: "I saw a news report about the situation with Fin and his family, and I felt as if I had to do something to try to help them raise the funds. I hope people will support this really important event to help Fin receive the vital surgery he needs."
The ECHO previously reported how life for Fin has been far from straightforward. Mum Clare Cormack described her teenage son as a "quiet guy" with a smile that "lights up everything". Doctors became concerned about Fin within a few hours of him being born. They looked at his Sats, which measure the percentage of oxygen in your blood, and saw that they were really low. He was quickly put on a ventilator.
Fin's health journey
Clare, 46 and from Prenton, previously told the ECHO: "They were fighting to keep him alive in Arrowe Park and trying to stabilise him enough to get him over to Alder Hey, where he needed to be under one of the cardiac consultants. At that point, we didn't have any idea (what was happening)."
It transpired that Fin had Ebstein's anomaly. To treat his condition, he has had to undergo multiple open heart surgeries throughout his life. Fin has struggled with fatigue since, which is a common symptom of those with Ebstein's anomaly. In 2018, Fin underwent cone reconstruction, a specialised surgical technique used to repair the tricuspid valve in patients with Ebstein's anomaly. He seemed to improve initially, but his symptoms have worsened in recent years.
Decline in fitness
Clare said: "Over the years that followed, his exercise tolerance was just so poor. We were just noticing this massive decline in his fitness, in what he was able to do. He was absolutely shattered. He'd go on a walk and he'd have to stoop down and put his hands on his knees to get his breath back.
"He's spent quite a few years really struggling with his exercise capacity and just feeling dreadful in himself when he does anything exertional, like walking up the stairs. He just really struggles, and it would be nice for him to have more of a normal existence.
"You can't go out with your friends if you're feeling dreadful doing anything, so he's just retreated over time back into his own company."
Doctors recently told the family that Fin has right-sided heart failure and may require a transplant to fix it, but this is something that Fin and his family aren't keen on.
However, a specialist team at the Mayo Clinic in the United States has reviewed Fin's case and believes they may be able to repair or replace a damaged valve in his heart - potentially delaying the need for a transplant and dramatically improving his quality of life. This is the route the family want to take after speaking to other people and families affected by the same condition. The surgery comes at a cost of up to £200,000, which the family must raise themselves.
Peter Kay's gig in aid of Fin will be held on Sunday, September 27 at 1pm. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, August 28.
