A Co Tyrone runner has handed over a cheque for thousands to the Altnagelvin Neonatal Unit in memory of a family member who sadly died shortly after giving birth.
Joanne McBride from Drumquin tragically lost her life after giving birth to baby Lorcan, who spent a number of days in the Neonatal Unit.
That time allowed husband Aidan time to say goodbye to his wife and keep Lorcan safe while Covid 19 was on the rise.
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Aidan’s aunt-in-law Donna McCullagh from Gortin decided that tackling a marathon for the very first time would be one way to pay tribute to Joanne’s memory, raising crucial funds for the Neonatal unit in the Co Derry hospital, as well as Cancer Research NI.
Donna told MyTyrone: “We were just heartbroken for her and the family for what they had to go through, and because it was during Covid lockdown it was hard to go and give them any practical help.
“My husband comes from a large family of 12 with a lot of connections, family is very important to us all, and as a mummy myself it really hurt that somebody we know and love never really got the chance to be with their baby.”
“Running the marathon and raising the money in her memory was a small gesture on my part to help honour Joanne, and I’m hugely thankful to everyone who offered their support.”
Donna is a mother of four young children herself and completed the Belfast City Marathon race in under four hours last year, raising over £4,400 in the process.
“The training was very challenging and at times tough”, said Donna, whose work takes her all across Ireland and was coming home to a young family.
“So for training the runs I was getting up at half five in the morning to ensure I was getting in good miles, in my head I was doing this marathon once and I was going to do it right so I’m very thankful that I have an amazing husband, family and a support base that I can call always call upon.”
“I never expected in my wildest dreams to raise as much money as I did.”
“It was just something that I felt I had to do after seeing the work the unit does for young babies and their families.”
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