The girlfriend of an LFC fan who died days before they could spend their first Christmas together, has spoken of how she is keeping his legacy alive.
Cooper McAuley took over the running of the student Instagram page, LivConfessions, after her boyfriend Ken Hession, died just before Christmas last year. On the face of it the social media account, which has more than 14,000 followers, is for students to send in their “original confessions (to) provide daily entertainment” for others in the city.
However, Cooper, a former University of Liverpool student, explained how Ken grew the page into something much more than that.
READ MORE: See who you remember in these photos of one lost Liverpool school
The 22-year-old told the ECHO: “Everyday Ken would check the page, most days before he even started his uni work. Everyone knows how much he loved it and he just put so much time into it.
“He became friends with people who messaged the page and he did so much for the students in Liverpool through it. He created group chats so people could find friends and dating forums because people were asking for them.
“He posted advice whenever students were struggling. I didn’t want all of that, all of his work, to die with him because I know much time and effort he spent on it. I just know he would have wanted it to keep going.”
It was through the Instagram page the couple actually met. Ken had started a speed dating series in which students would send in applications and in return, the 23-year-old would reply with several potential singletons who he thought would make an ideal match.
Cooper, a law graduate, wasn’t keen on any of the students who were picked out for her but during the process, Ken - who initially wasn’t getting involved in the speed dating - succumbed and told Cooper she was “beautiful”.
The two went on their first date and after it, Cooper said she “moved in and never left”. The couple lived together along the Docks and Ken, originally from Dublin, was due to graduate with his master's in marketing from the University of Liverpool this October. Since Ken's death, Cooper has returned home to be with her family in Northamptonshire but still travels to the city for work.
Cooper said: “Ken was the most caring, loving, selfless person - he always put everyone else's needs before himself. He went out of his way for anyone and everyone, making sure they were okay.
"He had a massive heart. Our relationship was like a fairytale, we never argued and had so much in common. It was like pieces of a puzzle coming together.”
In 2021, Ken was diagnosed with epilepsy. Cooper watched as he “struggled with symptoms and seizures” throughout their relationship. Ken died last December and Cooper said she didn't have much of a Christmas because of this.
She added: “It was unbearable. Losing anyone so close to Christmas is awful. We were planning on spending our first New Year together so it was really hard.”
In memory of her boyfriend, Cooper is hosting an event at the couple's favourite venue, Electrik Warehouse, Wood Street, to raise funds for Epilepsy Action. As a tribute to “Smiley Ken’s iconic legacy”, attendees are asked to wear a white t-shirt with their “best, outrageous and funniest” confession written on it.
The “Sh*t Indie Disco Special” is being held on Thursday, June 22, and will also be an opportunity to help raise funds for Ken’s family with funeral costs and remaining tuition fees they have been dealing with for the past five months.
The tickets can be bought online but those who are not able to attend but still wish to donate can do so via a GoFundMe set up by Cooper.
Receive our weekly LGBTQIA+ newsletter by signing up here.
READ NEXT:
