Irish Examiner
Wednesday 14 March 2012
Friends team up to fulfil Sean’s ‘bucket list’
By Fiachra O’Clonnaith and Colm O’Connor
Due to her work commitments, RTE sports presenter Jacqui Hurley is no stranger to running tracks, bike races or triathlons.
But over the coming weeks and months, the 27-year old from Ballinhassig in Co Cork will be appearing around the country for a far more noteworthy cause.
Just two days before her brother Sean died in a tragic car accident last year, he sat down with his mother to write a charity “bucket list” of goals to set in his life.
Three months after the day that changed Jacqui’s life forever, the RTE presenter and other close friends and family of Sean’s have begun the tasks for her 25 year old brother, who never had the chance to live out his dreams.
In the process, Jacqui and her companions are raising badly-needed funds for the Cardiac Risk in the Young organisation, which can be found at www.cry.ie.
“On Nov 30, 2011, Sean tragically lost his life in a car accident. Sadly, two days before he died he sat down with his mother and created a bucket list of all the things he wished could do before he died,” said an RTE spokesperson on behalf of the presenter.
“Many of those were work-related, some were to do with his future in motorbike racing and more were personal goals.
“The list includes everything from working with concrete, to driving a digger, to doing a marathon and becoming a professional motorbike racer.
“Since his death,Sean’s family and friends have taken on his bucket list and over the coming year will be hoping to complete all of his wishes for him.
“They got the manual work out of the way first, working with concrete and driving a digger in the Hurley family home in Ballinhassig, Co Cork.
This past weekend they completed the Schull Duathlon in West Cork.
“Their next challenge will be the Monster Mac triathlon on Saturday Apr 28 in Millstreet, Cork.
“They will be raising funds for the charity CRY, for which Sean’s sister Jacqui is a patron.”
Sean a talented motorbike racer tragically lost his life later last year.
However, through his admirable charitable decision days before he died and the heart-warming response to those close to him, his memory is continuing to inspire people to improve themselves and help those in greatest need.
If anybody wants to sponsor Sean’s friends, they can do so via the CRY website, www.cry.ie and by clicking “donate now” and selecting “Sean’s bucket list” from the drop down menu.