Carrigdhoun
Saturday 26 May 2012
Jacqui Hurley has a lot to look forward to this June bank holiday weekend. Not only will she be walking down the aisle on her wedding day on Saturday, she will also be part of a very special Cork City Marathon relay team who are taking part in this year’s Cork City Marathon as part of a bucket list in memory of Jacqui’s younger brother, Sean, who died tragically last year.
Sean lost his life in a car crash in November 2011. Just two days before the accident Sean sat down with his mother and made a bucket list of things he would like to do before he died. The list included many ambitions such as taking part in a triathlon, running a pub, owning a racetrack and becoming a world superbike winner. Now, Jacqui – together with family and friends – has undertaken to complete all of Sean’s goals and ambitions, one of which is to compete in the Cork City Marathon.
Jacqui said: “Since Sean died we’re been trying to complete all of the things on his list for him. We began with his working with concrete ambition and have since completed a duathlon and the Monstermac Triathon in April.
“Next up is to run the Cork City Marathon. As I am getting married in Cork over the June bank holiday weekend, I was hoping that all our family and friends could run the marathon in Sean’s memory so that he wouldn’t be forgotten at the wedding.
“The plan was to enter a team of 26 people and each would run a mile in this year’s marathon. Since we decided to do this, however, we have been inundated with people saying that if we do the Cork marathon they would join us. We’ve got 52 people signed up so far!”
Jacqui is an ambassador for the Irish charity CRY, which raises awareness; offers support to those affected by sudden cardiac death, and funds the activities including free screening at the Centre for Cardiac Risk in Younger Persons (CRYP) in Tallaght Hospital. As she attempts to complete all of Sean’s goals, all money raised by her family and friends in the process will be donated to CRY.
Michael Greene, chairman of CRY, said: “At CRY we have nothing but admiration for Jacqui and the challenge she and her family and friends have undertaken in her brother’s memory. Jacqui is a wonderful ambassador for CRY and we are so grateful for how generous she and her family have been in fundraising on behalf of our organisation.
“We are 1 00 per cent behind her as she not only attempts the Cork City Marathon relay, but also in completing all of the other items remaining on Sean’s bucket list.. I’m sure there will be a fantastic turn-out in Cork to cheer on this very special relay team.”
If you would like to support Jacqui at this year’s Cork City Marathon, search for ‘Sean’s Bucket List’ in the Donate Now section of the www.cry.ie website. Registration is still open for this year’s Cork City Marathon so it’s not too late to sign up and run on behalf of your chosen charity.
And if you don’t think you can manage the full 26 miles, why not get a group of friends together and run as part of a relay team? The distance is a lot less challenging but just as much fun!
Cork City Marathon takes place this June Bank Holiday Monday, June 4, 2012. For registration details, training tips and more see www.cry.ie