Everest-Bray Head challenge to Help Get Kevin Home
Donation protected
What we are doing:
To support in raising funds to #helpgetkevinhome, we are each attempting to complete the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest in one week, by climbing Bray Head (starting from sea level), 37 times.
Over the coming weeks we will train, and (hopefully!) complete the challenge from July 4th-11th.
All money raised through this gofundme page will go towards the larger 'Help Get Kevin Home' campaign, and the participants will be recording their elevation gain during the challenge week through the Strava app.
Why We are doing it:
Some background on Kevin, My brother in law's story:
On the 5th of January Kev, aged 40, suffered a massive stroke and was admitted to Beaumont Hospital, where over the next week he underwent 2 emergency, high risk surgeries to attempt to stop bleeding and reduce swelling on his brain.
He was placed in a medically induced coma to allow his brain to repair and recover from such severe trauma.
When the medically induced coma ended, Kev did not regain consciousness and medical staff gave him a less than 1% chance of survival. Through this time my sister Emma and their 3 children went through their worst nightmare of preparing to say goodbye to their Dad and husband.
However after 3 weeks, Kev began to defy all odds by very slowly regaining some consciousness.
After a further 2 weeks, through hard work and determination, Kev became stable enough to be moved out of ICU and was transferred to St. Vincent's Hospital, to continue with his recovery.
Kev began to do things which we were told were hugely unlikely; move, eat, drink and talk.
At an already difficult time, Kev faced further challenges as the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were brought in. This meant that while Kev was still struggling to recover, his main support system of his wife Emma and their 3 children Toby, Kealen and Robyn could not visit, and the children have not seen him since March (the brilliant hospital staff have supported with setting up Video Calls each day).
On the 18th of May, Kev's improvements were such that he was moved to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Here he will undergo months of intensive, carefully planned therapy, to support him in regaining use of his left-hand side & learning to walk again. All with the goal of bringing him back home to Emma and the kids.
Why we need your support:
This is where we need your help!! We hope to have Kev home by August, but in order to do this, Emma will need to carry out massive modifications to their home and family life - stair lifts, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, doorways and ramps, modified furniture etc.
The money raised will allow Emma, Kev & the kids to have a comfortable life and help Kevin in his ongoing recovery, in a home that is suitable to his needs.
There are so many worthy causes, and we are aware that Covid 19 has made times very difficult for everyone. Any donations are hugely appreciated.
A message of Thanks:
Kev has received amazing care from medical and support staff throughout his journey; Ambulance EMTs, Beaumont, St. Vincents and The National Rehabilitation Hospital. What they do is amazing.
The ongoing support that has been shown to Kev, Emma and the family from everyone in the community; family, friends, friends of friends, and strangers, has been overwhelming.
We thank everyone for their support, kind words and donations; it is hugely appreciated.
A huge Thank You to the gang taking part in this challenge to spread awareness and raise funds:
Anita Nolan
Keith McGarry
Laura Martin
Patrice Finneran
Conor Fenlon
Emma Keenan
Mark Leonard
Leo Kennedy
Gary Murray
To support in raising funds to #helpgetkevinhome, we are each attempting to complete the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest in one week, by climbing Bray Head (starting from sea level), 37 times.
Over the coming weeks we will train, and (hopefully!) complete the challenge from July 4th-11th.
All money raised through this gofundme page will go towards the larger 'Help Get Kevin Home' campaign, and the participants will be recording their elevation gain during the challenge week through the Strava app.
Why We are doing it:
Some background on Kevin, My brother in law's story:
On the 5th of January Kev, aged 40, suffered a massive stroke and was admitted to Beaumont Hospital, where over the next week he underwent 2 emergency, high risk surgeries to attempt to stop bleeding and reduce swelling on his brain.
He was placed in a medically induced coma to allow his brain to repair and recover from such severe trauma.
When the medically induced coma ended, Kev did not regain consciousness and medical staff gave him a less than 1% chance of survival. Through this time my sister Emma and their 3 children went through their worst nightmare of preparing to say goodbye to their Dad and husband.
However after 3 weeks, Kev began to defy all odds by very slowly regaining some consciousness.
After a further 2 weeks, through hard work and determination, Kev became stable enough to be moved out of ICU and was transferred to St. Vincent's Hospital, to continue with his recovery.
Kev began to do things which we were told were hugely unlikely; move, eat, drink and talk.
At an already difficult time, Kev faced further challenges as the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were brought in. This meant that while Kev was still struggling to recover, his main support system of his wife Emma and their 3 children Toby, Kealen and Robyn could not visit, and the children have not seen him since March (the brilliant hospital staff have supported with setting up Video Calls each day).
On the 18th of May, Kev's improvements were such that he was moved to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Here he will undergo months of intensive, carefully planned therapy, to support him in regaining use of his left-hand side & learning to walk again. All with the goal of bringing him back home to Emma and the kids.
Why we need your support:
This is where we need your help!! We hope to have Kev home by August, but in order to do this, Emma will need to carry out massive modifications to their home and family life - stair lifts, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, doorways and ramps, modified furniture etc.
The money raised will allow Emma, Kev & the kids to have a comfortable life and help Kevin in his ongoing recovery, in a home that is suitable to his needs.
There are so many worthy causes, and we are aware that Covid 19 has made times very difficult for everyone. Any donations are hugely appreciated.
A message of Thanks:
Kev has received amazing care from medical and support staff throughout his journey; Ambulance EMTs, Beaumont, St. Vincents and The National Rehabilitation Hospital. What they do is amazing.
The ongoing support that has been shown to Kev, Emma and the family from everyone in the community; family, friends, friends of friends, and strangers, has been overwhelming.
We thank everyone for their support, kind words and donations; it is hugely appreciated.
A huge Thank You to the gang taking part in this challenge to spread awareness and raise funds:
Anita Nolan
Keith McGarry
Laura Martin
Patrice Finneran
Conor Fenlon
Emma Keenan
Mark Leonard
Leo Kennedy
Gary Murray
Organizer and beneficiary
Laura Curran
Organizer
Emma Moore
Beneficiary