CRY charity receives €8,500 from event in memory of Phil
THE family of a Ballyfermot man who died after a sudden cardiac event has raised €8,500 for Tallaght-based charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
The family of Philip McLoughlin, who passed away in Melbourne in November 2021, held the inaugural Phil’s 5k event in Le Fanu Park last March to raise funds for CRY.
Philip’s passing was devastating for his wife, Caroline, infant son Fraser, parents Noel and Theresa, sisters Louise and Pamela, his brother Andrew, and his extended family and wide circle of friends.
As the family tried to grapple with the sudden loss of Philip, his mother, Theresa, reached out to CRY for support and the wider family then used the service too.
This led to the family’s decision to raise funds for CRY, which received the full backing of the Ballyfermot community who came out in full force for Phil’s 5k and donated generously.
Last week, the McLoughlin family handed over the cheque for the final amount raised to CRY’s CEO, Lucia Ebbs.
Philip’s sister, Lucan resident Pamela McLoughlin, told The Echo about how support from the local community has been invaluable for her family and helped them to support CRY’s work.
“Community is something that some people think is missing nowadays,” said Pamela.
“However, since we lost Philip, we have experienced an abundance of community.
“Friends, family, neighbours, local businesses and staff, and many more people, have come together time and time again to help us remember Philip.
“We chose to organise this 5k to remember Philip and as a way to give back, and to raise much needed funds for CRY, which has offered us even more community over this past year and a half.
“[We wanted] to raise awareness of heart issues among those around our area, and to come together to thank people for their constant support.
“We believe we have achieved that – as always, with everybody’s support – but have also been able to keep Philip’s memory alive in the way he lived for others, through positive actions.”
