Frankie set to run in memory of son

A LURGAN man plans to run a marathon in memory of his son.

Dylan McKay’s sudden, unexplained death at the age of three and half in February 2009 left his parents Frankie and Kerry devastated.

Over a year has passed since their son’s death and his spirit lives on in the shape of a playframe that was dedicated to Dylan at The Ozanam Centre.

Now his dad Frankie will run the London Marathon on April 25 in Dylan’s memory to support FSID - the Foundation for Study into Infant Death.

The FSID vest that Frankie will be wearing on the day will have ‘For Dylan’ printed on it.

“Dylan is the reason I am running it and will be my inspiration to complete it on the day,” he said.

“I have realised the joy a child can bring and more shockingly the void that the loss of a child can leave.”

On November 1 a ray of sunshine came into Frankie and Kerry’s lives when Kerry gave birth to a baby girl.

“Aimee has given us a reason to live again,” said Frankie. “Dylan will always be part of our lives, and indeed Aimee’s, but it's been fantastic to have a new ‘distraction’ in our lives again, a new reason to celebrate Christmas, etc and someone to spoil with our love. Without her we’d be lost and she’s really starting to settle and develop into a right wee character.”

Frankie added: “It’s been a rollercoaster year emotionally and we’ve had some really tough times with the dreaded ‘firsts’ – birthday, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day were particularly hard, but thankfully we’ve had Aimee to help drive us on and pull us through and hopefully the hurt will become more manageable in time.

“Looking back we can see that we are definitely in a lot better psychological position than we were this time last year and we’re just trying to appreciate each day at a time, taking nothing for granted.”

This will be Frankie’s first marathon. He said: “Whilst I did a small bit of running beforehand, this is my first marathon, and it has been a tough challenge over the past nine months or so getting prepared for 26.2 miles with all that has happened in the past year in our lives.

“I am trying to avoid setting myself a specific time target to run it in, and first and foremost I hope to finish the race and enjoy the whole occasion of the day. It is bound to an extremely taxing day both emotionally and physically, but one I am strangely enthusiastic about being part of.”

Frankie said: “The support we have received has been fantastic – family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues from both Smurfit Kappa and Hamilton Shipping have all been extremely kind with donations of time and money. Indeed some family and friends did an abseil off the Europa Hotel towards the charity on Sunday, March 14.”

So far Frankie has raised 1,245 towards his 1,500 target.

“Each penny will go to a great cause and be put to use in helping hopefully prevent other families having to endure what we have been through,” he said.

“To all those that have contributed in any way or fashion we are eternally grateful for everything – it's been overwhelming the support received and I just hope that I can repay the faith shown in me by finishing the marathon and in so doing raise as much money as possible.”

Anyone wishing to donate to Frankie’s marathon effort in memory of his son Dylan should log on to www.justgiving.com/Frankie-McKay