‘I wouldn’t be where I am today’ only for Philip

A LOCAL woman is holding a 5k event next month in memory of her brother, Philip McLoughlin, and to raise funds for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

Pamela McLoughlin, who is originally from Ballyfermot and now lives in Lucan, said her family received support from Tallaght-based charity CRY after the untimely passing of Philip.

The father-of-one, who was a past pupil of St John’s College in Ballyfermot, lived in Melbourne, Australia, and passed away in the city in November 2021 after a sudden cardiac event.

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.

“We were given the number for CRY when Philip passed away, but we didn’t use it because we were too busy with going to and from Australia for his funeral,” Philip’s sister, Pamela, told The Echo.

Pamela McLoughlin and Jacqueline Sheehy, community health co-ordinator of South Dublin County Partnership

“A couple of months later my mam called them up and spoke to a volunteer there who’d also lost a son, and she got great comfort from it.

“She started telling us about it and then we got onto them.

“It just helped us to feel like we weren’t alone in feeling the things we were feeling.”

The loss of Philip, who Pamela said had a zest for life, has been difficult for the family to adjust to, but they all remember him fondly, as a man who loved fishing and was an avid Liverpool supporter.

Philip who sadly passed away in 2021

“Philip was always a kind person,” said Pamela.

“He was a first-class gentleman and he couldn’t do enough for you. He was so helpful, caring and kind.

“People went to him for advice, and they said, ‘If I didn’t speak to Philip, I wouldn’t be where I am now’.

“He helped a lot of people like that, but he never said – we only found out after he died.”

She added: “He was a massive Liverpool fan and played for Ballyfermot United when he was a teenager, and he loved fishing – it was his passion.”

Pamela has decided to combine her own passion for running with her desire to raise funds for CRY by organising the Phil’s 5k event at the Lawns in Le Fanu Park on March 18 from 9am to 12pm.

She has organised the event with her family and Jacqueline Sheehy, the community health coordinator for the South Dublin County Partnership, and Lucia Ebbs from CRY.

Attendees are welcome to walk, jog or run the distance in memory of Philip, and to support the work of CRY.

To sign up, visit www.tinyurl.com/Phils5kBallyfermot or to donate in Philip’s memory, visit www.tinyurl.com/Phils5kforCRY “I just decided I wanted to do something in memory of my brother, and to give back to CRY,” Pamela explained.

“I’m doing it for heart awareness, and to raise much-needed funds for CRY and to celebrate Philip’s life.”

When asked what Philip would think of the 5k being held in his memory, Pamela said: “He’d be blown away.

“I’d say he’d be delighted – he’d have been the first to sign up as well!” Phil’s 5k is set to be a family event, as Philip’s wife and son, Caroline and Fraser, will travel over from Australia for the event, and it’s also a way for the wider community to celebrate a man who impacted so many.