A Cork family honors their son lost to addiction by fundraising for the charity that supported him—surpassing their target.
Niamh Byrne and her mom, Frances, will run. The race honors Niamh’s brother, Seán O’Sullivan. He died last year after fighting addiction. Frances is 67 and a runner. She even does Ironman competitions. They want to help the local recovery center.
This charity helped Seán. He needed support after an accident in 2011. He worked in Australia as a kitchen installer. A sudden explosion severely hurt him. He went to the hospital quickly. He stayed on life support for days. Bandages covered his whole body. His mom, Frances, visited him. She knew him only by his feet.
Seán left the hospital and went home. He felt intense pain for months. He used to be active. Now, he stayed home, unable to work construction.
Niamh said Seán started struggling with addiction then. His injuries hurt his well-being. The charity helped him years later. Then, the family saw the “old Seán” again.
Niamh said Seán was always in pain. Only after his death did they learn about the charity. They saw the amazing work it does. “I owe them back for everything,” Niamh stated. Seán had a heart of gold. He always helped others. He hid his own struggles. Niamh and Frances became close to the charity after Seán died. Now, they help others recover.
They started a GoFundMe last year. They hoped to raise €1,000. They have raised over €4,200 already! They thanked everyone for their support. They will try their best at the race.