Derry’s “bootcampers” are the latest to get involved in helping with the financial burden of bringing Patrick Friel Curran home from America.
Patrick taking part in the Derry Marathon in June.
Patrick died suddenly in a New York Hospital on Tuesday after suffering multiple organ failure. He was admitted to hospital the previous Sunday with back pain.
He had only been in America for three months and was due to return home yesterday.
The 23-year-old’s remains are due to arrive at the family home in The Branch today. His Requiem Mass will take place on Sunday morning.
Since the shock news, his friends on both sides of the Atlantic have been organising fundraising events to ease the cost on his family.
The latest group to join in the fundraising are members of the city’s “boot camps.”
Tommy McCallion, leader of one of the early-morning training groups, has called on the city’s bootcampers to get together tomorrow morning to boost the fund.
He said: “It has been well publicised that Paddy Friel passed away tragically this week and there has been a real coming together within the city to help support the family. On behalf of his family and friends, the local personal trainers and bootcamp instructors would like to join together on this Saturday morning to have a fundraiser for the family.
“We live in a special city who rally in times of need and on behalf of the trainers I would like to invite all our members to a special group exercise event this Saturday morning.
“Meeting at Foyle street car park, myself and Seamus Fox will meet you at 6.15am, you pay your £5 fee and then off we go on a Derry bootcamp. All for a good cause you then get to experience the best trainers in the city, so for one hour we are calling everyone to get involved, one early morning, come together and remember a great person, friend and son. All trainers and friends welcome, let’s unite for a great cause.”
Fundraisers are in the ground floor of the Richmond Centre throughout today while events will be held in Mason’s Bar tonight and Pitchers at the Foyle Golf Centre tomorrow.
Staff at Cafe Soul in Shipquay Street at donating their wages while the owner is contributing the entire takings from tomorrow.
A fundraiser was also held by Patrick’s friends in New York.
Friends of Patrick, who ran this year’s London and Derry Marathons, will compete in tomorrow’s Causeway Coast Half Marathon in his honour.
Patrick taking part in the Derry Marathon in June.
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