THE FAMILY OF former Derry City striker Mark Farren have launched a public appeal for help in his fight against cancer.

Farren, 32, has been battling a brain tumour for six years and is now hoping to raise €30,000 to travel to Germany for treatment.

The Brandywell legend retired from football when he was first diagnosed but made a remarkable return in 2011 and managed to break Liam Coyle’s goalscoring record before moving to Glenavon.

He continued to fight the illness and underwent surgery for a third time last month.

“Mark’s 3rd surgery took place a month ago and surgeons removed 80-90% of a tumour,” his family wrote on Friday.

“The invasive nature of the procedure has had a stunting effect on his speech and mobility. The biopsy which followed has indicated that the tumour is a grade 4, meaning it’s highly aggressive.

Being no stranger to thinking outside the box, Mark is seeking medical assistance from an elite cancer centre in Germany. The six week treatment programme is his best chance of saving or at least prolonging his life. Treatment will cost approximately €30,000.

“This is the one goal with which Mark needs our help, any contribution is greatly appreciated.”

Details of a fundraising account are expected to be announced shortly.

Derry and Glenavon, along with Farren’s former team-mates Kevin McHugh, Ruaidhri Higgins and Ciaran Martyn, the PFAI, and other sporting bodies will lead fundraising activities in the coming weeks.

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