Call to support '3 Angels Road Run' in Ballycommon

The community is being asked to support this Sunday's 5k fun run/walk in Ballycommon, which is being held in memory of three local sisters who died as babies.

A fundraiser for A Little Lifetime Foundation, this is the third year of an increasingly popular event staged in memory of the triplets born to local couple Fergus and Trish O'Shea in 2003. They named the girls Angel, who was stillborn; Jessie who only survived a few hours; and Nikki, who lived for just nine days.

“A Little Lifetime Foundation was very good to us in our time of sadness,” Trish, who was 28 when she had the triplets, said of the voluntary support group. “We wanted to support them by raising money, so we're doing our memorial 3 Angels Road Run again this year.”

Participants can run or walk the 5k route in an event that raised €3,500 for the charity last year. The 2015 run was held in support of the neonatal unit at UHL and featured 200 participants; 230 turned out for it last year.

Hoping for even greater support again this Sunday, Trish pointed out that the death of infants is something that touches everyone.

“Lots of my good friends and family members never got to meet their babies,” she said. “Many had them for only minutes, hours, days, months and even years, and had to say goodbye, but nonetheless they are our angels. A Little Lifetime helped us back then and they're still helping us and others like us.”

Formerly called ISANDS (Irish Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society), A Little Lifetime Foundation provides information, services and support to help parents and families cope with the death of babies. Support is available from the moment news is delivered of a baby's death right through to the days, weeks, months and years afterward.

“The more people that know about A Little Lifetime Foundation, the greater their impact,”  said Trish, who has a daughter, Charlie, and two sons, Calum and Josh. She hoped that people would donate whatever they can at https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/trish-2

People can also show solidarity by taking part in the 5k setting out from Ballycommon village this Sunday, October 8th, at 3.30pm (registration in Ballycommon hall from 3pm). Entry is €10 per adult and €5 per child with a family rate of €20. There will be prizes for the first man/woman/child over the line.

All are welcome to help out with registration, provision of refreshments, stewarding the road, etc. Spot prizes are also welcome, with a number of very generous contributions already made for the draw. Contact Trish at 087-6127478.