Remembering Wesley by walking 5k

A MEMORY walk was held in remembrance of people whose lives were cut short.

The event in Phoenix Park on Saturday was organised by Lucan resident Serena Keating.

Serena’s brother Wesley Keating (27) passed away from a brain tumour on December 10, 2018, at Our Lady’s Hospice.

The following year, Serena established a fundraising initiative, in memory of Wesley, and it has raised tens of thousands for the hospice.

Clondalkin resident Wesley had been living with a brain tumour from the age of 16, and underwent surgeries, but a benign tumour resurfaced after he married.

His death left behind his two-year-old daughter Poppy and his heartbroken wife Ashlee.

This year, with extra hours in work taking up more of her time, Serena tried something different, and decided on a 5k memorial walk.

“It was the best day yet. The whole idea was that Wesley didn’t like anything to be about himself, so rather than just Weso, I got other people involved who lost someone, they had sponsorship cards, and we all did a walk,” said Serena.

“My thought process is people are very kind. They don’t care if you are walking Kilimanjaro or 5k in Phoenix Park, they will donate something, and we wanted children to be able to do it.”

After the walk, the group retired to the newly re-opened Foxhunter Pub in Lucan for a celebration.

“This is the first year I didn’t ask for donations or spot prizes, but in the last three weeks, my phone kept hopping with local businesses donating spot prizes. The raffle went on for ages.

“The Irish Whiskey Association is hosting an event in the Foxhunter on December 15, and kindly offered all proceeds on the night to this, so we won’t have a final figure until after that.”

However, after raising a total of €33,000 in the first three years alone, Serena is hopeful of reaching up to another €10,000 or so to the cause this year, and will present a cheque to the hospice when the final figure is added up.