The family and friends of a Keady mum-of-three have committed to running the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon in her memory with the additional aim of raising much-needed funds for a vital volunteer service.
The deeply loved and widely respected Majella Hughes passed away unexpectantly in September 2024 leaving behind her husband, Paddy, and three children, Francie, Anna and Lucy.
Her death sent shockwaves across the local community with many paying tribute to her as a “beautiful person inside and out”.
Speaking at the time of her passing, SDLP Councillor, Thomas O’Hanlon, said: “Majella was a beautiful person, inside and out. No words can, or will, comfort her heartbroken family. Sometimes we just can’t understand why God takes the best home to himself.
“Our community’s thoughts and prayers are with Paddy, Francie, Anna and Lucy in these very tough days. We’re also thinking of the King and Hughes families both now and in the time ahead.
“Wherever you are tonight, give your mummy, your daughters or sister a hug, tell her you love her and how important she is in your life, that she’s irreplaceable… for we do not know what tomorrow brings.”
Related: ‘A beautiful person’: Community rocked following sudden passing of mother-of-three
A collection of Majella’s family and friends are now preparing to take on the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon on June 1 – a race which Majella herself ran in 2022 to raise funds for Southern Area Hospice – in aid of Keady First Responders.
A fundraising page has been set up by Majella’s husband Paddy to collate funds for the vital service which he describes as having “delivered prompt and professional care and assistance on the morning she passed away”.
He continues: “Keady Community First Responders have provided help to ours and numerous other families throughout our local community, and we along with so many are very grateful for these amazing volunteers and the vital work they do.
“Keady Community First Responders are a community based group who are able to attend emergencies in their area and provide medical assistance quickly and professionally until fully equipped paramedics arrive. We really are truly blessed to have them and for the work they do.”
The GoFundMe page was initially set with a target of £1,000 and – at the time of writing – has already surpassed £4,400 with every penny raised to be donated to the life-saving service.
You can make a donation to the GoFundMe page here.
