A Belfast man is organising a different fundraising challenge during each month of 2023 to give back to a charity close to his heart.
Michael Cole, 38 from East Belfast, is taking on 12 events over 12 months to raise funds for Marie Curie with the help of his family and friends.
Fundraising events to date have included a 10K race in the Run Forest Run Series at Antrim Castle Gardens, a cycle from Belfast to Bangor and back and the St Patrick's Day Craic 10k race.
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There are many more events in the pipeline over the coming months including a duathlon, triathlon, white collar boxing and hiking the Mournes.
Dad-of-two Michael said: "I decided just before Christmas to take on a fundraising fitness event every month for the next 12 months with the help of my wife Ashleigh and two friends Jim Dougan and Darren Vance.
"The reason we are raising money for Marie Curie is because my grandmother died a few years back but unfortunately she never got to be cared for by Marie Curie. However we donated towards Marie Curie after she died and wore daffodils at her funeral.
"Then just last year my wife’s grandfather was cared for by Marie Curie on numerous occasions up at their Hospice on Knock Road in East Belfast. It was there that I got to see first hand the amazing work done by all the staff so I thought I should do anything I could to support this.
"My wife’s grandad was in the Marie Curie Hospice five times in total, ranging from a week to five weeks. He was in for one month before he passed away last August.
"He loved the nurses and called them his angels as nothing was ever too much trouble for them. On good days he would sit in the hospice garden which was his favourite place or walk over to The Quiet Lady as he called her and chat to her.
"Then he started talking about the sounds of the birds and a few hours later the nurses had printed him off a sheet with all local birds to spot in the area and we would sit and watch for them."
Michael added: "Our family could never thank the nurses and staff enough. We want it to all be in his name to raise as much awareness and as much money as possible. He also raised £795 for the charity himself after getting a daffodil tattoo on his arm, which my wife and both now have also.
"In total as a family we have raised almost £3,000 and will continue to push for donations through events. The care they give is second to none and we will forever be in their debt for it.
"So we lost two great people and although one of them was never cared for by Marie Curie, if she had been it would have been done by amazing people."
You can donate to Michael's fundraiser here.
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