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An event was held in the Brass Monkey in Newry on 19 September to thank everyone who supported fundraising in memory of Gareth Mc Kinley, who lived with cystic fibrosis for over 42 years before passing away in 2024. The final total raised was announced at the event as £20,000, which is being donated to Queen's University Belfast for research into the condition.
Gareth's circle of friends from his school days had already raised over £5,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust by completing the To Hell and Back challenge on a wet day in June at Kilruddery Demesne, Bray. Inspired by this, Gareth's family organised a series of challenges between 9 August and 9 September under the banner Goforgar.
His parents, Brian and Pamela, completed 998.1km of cycling and 998 minutes of indoor cycling. In Australia, Gareth's sister Neola, with husband Troy and sons Conan (11) and Declan (8), completed 9,998 press-ups, 99.81km of mountain biking, three Parkruns and 30km of open sea and pool swimming. The family, known as Team Oz, travelled home last week and took part in the Newry Parkrun.
Locally, family friend Marian raised several thousand pounds through her own personal challenge of walking 10km per day throughout May.
The Goforgar page remains active at www.justgiving.com/page/goforgar with all donations continuing to support research to benefit cystic fibrosis sufferers in the future.
