A POPULAR Killarney man, whose mother passed away last Friday, is planning to run a half marathon in her memory and to raise funds for the Kerry Hospice Foundation that cared for her in the final weeks of her illness.
Tom O’Shea will take part in the Seattle Marathon in the US next June and he has started an online fundraising campaign for those that might wish to make a donation.
Tom, who played with Killarney Celtic and the Kerry Oscar Traynor Cup team, as well as Dr Crokes, is an accomplished all-round sportsman and he works with the Football Association of Ireland.
His mum, Mary, was diagnosed with cancer in February and passed away, at the age of 93, just six weeks later.
“In her final weeks, she was cared for by the palliative care team in University Hospital Kerry and she spent her final week in Killarney Community Hospital.
“The respect and dignity she was shown and the care she received by all of the staff was a great comfort to us,” said Tom.
He had already planned to participate in the half marathon on June 10 but he has now decided to use it as a fundraiser for the Kerry Hospice.
“The more people that know about the great work done by the Kerry Hospice Foundation, the greater their impact,” he said.
Mrs O’Shea, who lived in O’Kelly’s Villas and was a very familiar and friendly face in the Gleneagle Hotel for a whole generation of Killarney people, was predeceased by her husband, Mortimer, and she is survived by her daughters, Joad and Peggy and son Tom, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, sisters, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law and many other relatives and friends
Tom’s fundraising page can be found here https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/seattle-half-marathon-in-aid-of-kerry-hospice-foundation and to donate clock the ‘Give Now’ button.
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