An Irish man with scoliosis will carry his late dad's ashes and oxygen tank from Dublin to Offaly next week.
Gary Farrell, who is a founder of Scoliosis Ireland, has raised over €5,000 for The Mater as his dad Peadar received treatment there up to his death in May. Peadar had Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, which caused him to rely on additional oxygen, and he was on a lung transplant list when he died.
On Tuesday, Gary will begin walking from The Mater to his family home in Offaly while carrying his dad's oxygen bottle and ashes on his back. Speaking to Dublin Live, Gary said his father received "fantastic care" and he wants to give back to the hospital.
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He said: "He had been looked after in The Mater for the last couple of years and he was up there for four weeks before he passed away,. He was very familiar with the staff and nurses up there and they gave him great care before he passed away."
Gary said he has received a lot of support to prepare him for the 86 kilometre feat.
"I've had physios and therapists on board just to make sure my hips, legs and back are going okay. I have a nutritionist on board too to make sure the food is right," he said.
"Everyone is coming together. When there is a death in the family, it's sad but still everyone rallies around so it's great.
"I'm really excited for when I'm taking off that morning. My dad was cremated and I'm bringing back his ashes with me. It's kind of a last walk."
You can donate to the fundraiser and find out more here.
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