Laura & Adrian Donations to AJ

Cheque Presentation to S.O.F.T. Ireland

Adrian & Laura McHale

Fundraiser for AJ

9th – 25th June

Laura and Adrian had the great privilege of being invited to Sligo University Hospital to present our cheques to our three nominated charity organisations totalling €20,717.

We were welcomed with open arms and so much love by some of the wonderful team that cared for us during our time of need. The wonderful Dr. Heather Langan who was our earthside guardian angel during impossibly painful times, made the morning incredibly special by inviting us back to the maternity ward into the Solos Beag room. This room was created approximately two years after AJ’s stay on the maternity ward. It had been our first time back since the day we left with AJ. Sligo maternity holds such wonderful memories for our family. The team of doctors, midwifes, catering staff became like family to us. The funds raised will be put into creating a room for women/parents who receive life changing news. It will provide a safe and private space to those who need to feel, cry and breathe though unthinkable circumstances. The remaining funds will go towards Fetal Assessment upgrades in the near future.

Andrew from FirstLight made the long journey from Wicklow to Sligo to deliver a presentation on the work that FirstLight do. The support that FirstLight provide for parents and siblings of childloss is so important. Bereavement therapy played a huge roll in our family navigating some difficult and dark times. We will be forever grateful to them. We are so happy that the awareness of their services has grown in Sligo and will benefit so many future families who find themselves in similar circumstances. We have been advised that our donation will go towards providing over 100 therapy hours for people in need.

Dr. Heather Langan and LeTrish Howley were kind enough to accept the cheque on behalf of S.O.F.T. Ireland. The funds have been send to and received by Soft Ireland. Our gratitude to our wonderful friends at SOFT will forever remain. We are so proud of the work they do.

And finally thank you so much to each and every one of you who donated to our fundraiser and shared our story. The changes that will happen in our local community and beyond is all down to your generosity.

Thank you too to every person who walked and ran with us. The daily support is what kept us going.

Thank you to our special friends and wonderful families for your unwavering support.

Thank you to our beautiful children. Our reason for wanting to do better and be better.

And to our precious AJ. The impact your short life has made is beyond anything we could have imagined or hoped for. You’ve made us the most proud mammy and daddy in the world. Your beautiful life has touched so many and done so much good. A legacy fit for the magical little boy that you were.

We love you beyond words, always and forever

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.

Sligo University Hospital – Maternity Bereavement Services
First Light
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.