A woman is running a marathon around the Mourne Mountains in memory of a Co Down man who died in Ukraine earlier this year.
Teacher Kevin Gregory, 31, from Leitrim, died from heart failure on February 12 shortly after moving to the country to live with his partner Noza after they had been separated for a year due to the Covid pandemic.
The oldest of six brothers, he had been teaching in the country when he suddenly passed away in his sleep, leaving his family and friends heartbroken.
Following his passing, his family were helped by the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, who helped bring his body home to Co Down "in a matter of days" where they were able to have a wake and funeral for him.
As a way of saying thank you to the charity, the partner of his younger brother Conor, Isabel Stacey is running a marathon around the Mourne Way to raise vital funds so that it is able to continue to support those who have had a tragedy abroad.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Isabel said: "Kevin had gone to the Ukraine in January in order to meet his partner and teach there. Due to the Covid pandemic they had been separated for a year and had not been able to meet each other until they were finally able to be reunited there.
"His death was so sudden and left his entire family heartbroken and worried about how they were going to be able to bring him home to say their last goodbyes.
"Thankfully, we were told about the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and after contacting them they immediately offered their support to bring our Kevin home, with him returning to Ireland in a matter of days.
"This allowed his family to have a proper two day wake for him at their home and a funeral, giving them a small piece of closure after such a tragic loss.
"In order to say thank you to the charity, I am now going to be doing a marathon around the Mourne Way in the hopes of raising much needed funds for them, so they can continue doing their amazing work and helping more families who are trying to bring a loved one home."
Isabel will be doing the marathon on Saturday, June 11, and hopes to complete it within eight hours.
She said: "I have taken part in three marathons before but nothing like what I am preparing to do with the elevations involved.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me so far for their donations, all of the money is going towards a very caring charity that has helped many people across Ireland at some of the toughest times of their lives."
If you would like to donate to Isabel's fundraiser please follow this link.
Read more: Price of the Ulster Fry rockets because of Ukraine war
Read more: Ukrainian woman on settling in and creating a new life in Carrickfergus
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