Adrian & Laura McHale

Fundraiser for AJ

9th  – 25th June

In Memory of AJ GoFundMe

Adrian & Laura McHale Facebook

SOFT Facebook

Adrian & Laura McHale, parents to our beloved son AJ (Adrian Junior) AJ sadly went to the angels in June 2017 at just 17 days old. AJ is the youngest of our 4 amazing children. He was adored and loved by his big sister Ava-Lauren and his two big brothers Culáin & Fionán.

For 17 days, beginning on AJ’s birthday June 9th and finishing on his anniversary June 25th Adrian and his lifelong friend Michael McDermott will run 17km for each of the 17 days of AJ’s short life.

Laura will walk 7km each day for the same period marking his 7th year Anniversary and embracing his 17 days of life.

The day before each walk and run Laura will post the time and place the walk/run will begin the following day. Both Laura and Adrian would welcome anyone who would like to join them on their daily challenge for AJ.

Our motivation and hope behind this fundraiser is to give back to 3 of the amazing services and charities that supported us as a family in our darkest days.

1. Sligo University Hospital – Maternity Bereavement Services

2. First Light

3. S.O.F.T. Ireland

   Day 17 – Tuesday 25th June AJ’s Anniversary

   Walk began at Scarden Cemetery Strandhill road at 5.15pm

   Run began at Scarden Cemetery Strandhill road at 5.15pm

   Day 17 over and task complete. Well done everyone.

   Paula and Alex decided to do something about it so rather than do a click on a website or a like on facebook they walked the walk and talked the talk with Laura and Adrian in person for AJ on Day 17. What an experience that one can only get by being there. No words can describe except maybe a memorial Card for AJ hot off the press below says it all. Well done Laura and Adrian AJ is proud of you.

    
   
    

   DAY 14/17 Walk and Run in Memory of AJ

   Walk and Run number 14 done

   Today’s walk was a very special one for me as I walked in my hometown of Longford. The turn out of support was overwhelming. It meant the world to me to have Yvonne Kenny Clancy, Gavin Clancy, Lisa Forde and her son Sam, Vinny Forde, Eugenie Hanly, Tina Reddy, Ollie Kenny, Peadar Kenny, Christine O’Brien and Oscar, Ray Masterson, Nicola Croke, Tamara Nicholas, Maureen Fallon and her son Charlie, Liz Hourican, Frank Kenny, Patricia Kenny, Louise, Travis and Bella, Ava-Lauren, Culáin and Fionán there with us.

   Our runners, Michael and Adrian were also bless with great company and support back here in Sligo. Thank you to John Silke, Kevin Kiernan, Rachel Harte Scanlon, Deirdre Murphy, Warner Wilders, James O’Hehir, Michael McMorrow, and Jacob Fleming

   Thanks to Ana Faye who did her 7km walk and to Nicola Casey who ran 17km today also.

   A huge thank you to everyone who has shared our posts and donated to our fundraiser. We appreciate all of your support so much

   **** Only 3 walks and runs left to do. Please like, share, and donate if you can. Every single donation is getting us closer to our 17k target***

   Day 15 – Sunday 23rd

   Walk will begin at Mitchell Curley Park at 3pm

   Run will begin at Mitchell Curley Park at 3pm

   Day 16 – Monday 24th

   Walk will begin at Mitchell Curley Park at 11am

   Run will begin at Lidl carpark in Finisklin at 3pm

   Day 17 – Tuesday 25th AJ’s Anniversary

   Walk will begin at Scarden Cemetery Strandhill road at 5.15pm

   Run will begin at Scarden Cemetery Strandhill road at 5.15pm

   For more information on our story and charities/organisations we are raising funds for. Please find the gofundme link below to donate

   https://www.gofundme.com/f/17-days-of-17km-for-aj

   DAY 8/17 Walk and Run in Memory of AJ

   Walk and Run number 8 completed with weather conditions again in our favour

   We had most amazing turnout today with wonderful friends and family showing up to show their support along our walk and run.

   Today was as special one as its Fathers Day. Fathers Day seven years ago was the day we got to bring our AJ home. Today we remembered the Daddy’s who have babies in heaven and those of whom are without their Dads and husbands. Every single step was for you today.

   A very big thank you to today’s walkers who were Ana Faye, Noreen Mchale, John McHale, Louise Taaffe, Alan Taaffe and their three gorgeous kids Cooper, Dennan and Megan, Fiona Fahey Gilmartin, Marie Fahey, Vanessa Foley, Renee Gunning, Deirdre Murphy, Fiona Boyle and her son Flynn, Edel Louisa Flynn, Liz Flynn, Ava-Lauren, Culáin, Fionán, Grace & Ciara

   A special mention has to go to one of today’s walkers, Marie Fahey. Marie and her husband Jonathan have been friends of ours for many years. On the morning of AJ’s birth the stars aligned and Marie was there as our midwife and friend. Marie held our hand on the most overwhelming days of our lives. We were blessed to have you then and still blessed to have you now. We love you so much

   Our runners, Michael and Adrian, were joined on their 17km’s by Nicola Casey and Kevin and Corinna Kiernan

   Caoimhe McDermott also ran 17km in memory of AJ on a solo run

   Thank you too to all the wonderful people who are doing walks in other places and counties in memory of AJ.

   DAY 9 –

   Walk will begin at Mitchell Curley Park at 6pm

   Run will begin at Lidl carpark Finisklin at 2.30

   For more information on our story and charities/organisations we are raising funds for. Please find the gofundme link below to donate

   https://www.gofundme.com/f/17-days-of-17km-for-aj

   DAY 4/17 Walk and Run in Memory of AJ

   Walk and Run number 4 completed. Blessed with the weather again today making really lovely walking and running conditions

   We had fantastic company along our walk and run again today.

   DAY 1/17 Walk and Run in Memory of AJ
   Walk and Run number 1 completed. The rain was relentless but that did not dampen our spirits as we walked and ran this morning.
   We marked the start of today’s challenge by wishing our son AJ a happy heavenly 7th birthday.