Remembering Jonny Blair

Jonny Blair (33) passed away while looking after his nine-month-old son Jonathan in their Ballymoney home last January.

He had been a founding member of the Joey Dunlop Motorcycling Club in the town and had also played for several sides at Coleraine Rugby Club.

Jonny’s sister, Zara Cunningham and her husband David decided to organise a memorial walk to mark the first anniversary of Jonny’s untimely death on January 29th.

Jonny’s brother-in-law, Brian Robinson, suggested Binevenagh Forest and the event was promoted on Facebook with the numbers taking part swelling to more than a hundred.

The walkers gathered to walk to the top of Binevenagh Mountain - one of Jonny’s favourite places.

The Blair family were honoured by the enormous turnout of Jonny’s friends, including his great pal Peter Wilson, who came all the way from Aberdeen and the Dunlop family.

The participants, including children, babies in buggies and dogs set off in the morning, braving the wind and torrential rain.

On reaching the top, everyone was rewarded by the exceptional views over the Foyle estuary to Donegal and even the little church at Tamlaghtard where Jonny is buried.

A fantastic total of £3,302.35 has been donated to The Joey Dunlop Foundation.

Jonny’s wife Judy and his family would like to thank not only everyone who took part in the walk but also those who donated to The Joey Dunlop Foundation.

The family is particularly grateful to the Joey Dunlop MCC, who went to Ballintra, Co Donegal, that weekend and returned with 230 euros, collected by the Morrow family.

The event was a huge success and a fitting way for family and friends to remember Jonny.