A Northern Irish couple living in San Francisco are turning the most unimaginable loss to the benefit of a charity to whom they will be forever grateful by competing in the world famous Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
Lauren McLaughlin, from Lurgan, and her husband, Stephen McLaughlin, from Randalstown, have been living in the Golden Gate city since 2014.
They were married in 2021 and then, in 2023, had their first child, Cillian.
But on November 11, 2025 the young family had their entire world rocked. Their beautiful son, Caoimhín was born sleeping at 37 weeks.
“There are no words to truly capture the heartbreak of losing a child,” said Lauren. But through it all, Cillian has been their saving grace.
She explained: “Cillian has helped us more than we could ever put into words and more than he will ever know.
“His joy and energy brings light into even the darkest days and remind us to keep going. He has been a huge source of strength for us throughout everything.”
So too, have their family and friends – both in NI and San Francisco – been a constant and indescribable source of support.
Lauren and Stephen knew they wanted Caoimhín’s final resting place to be at home, in Ireland.
With the help of their good friends, John and Aideen Haughey – who reached out to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) while Lauren was still in hospital – they managed to have their treasured son safely repatriated, with the utmost dignity.
Said Lauren: “The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust supported us in a way we will never forget.
“In the midst of shock and heartbreak, they stepped in and took care of everything silently with such compassion and care.
“At a time when we simply didn’t have the strength or clarity to deal with logistics, they guided us through it all and gave us the comfort of knowing our son would be brought home with dignity. That meant everything to us.”
Describing the KBRT as “incredibly kind, responsive, and understanding”, Lauren said they also provided a list of recommended mortuaries that they had connections with in San Francisco which helped a great deal.
“They made what could have been an overwhelming and complicated process feel manageable,” she said. “Myself and my husband had very minimal contact with them, which took a huge weight off our shoulders. Everything was handled with such sensitivity and compassion, and we always felt supported and reassured throughout.”
Having Caoimhín at home, Lauren says, has brought them all a “small but very important sense of comfort”, one they will never forget.
She also felt it incredibly important to acknowledge and thank the staff at Aer Lingus for their kindness and compassion.
“One of our wishes was to have Caoimhín travel on the same flight as us (myself, Stephen and Cillian, our 3-year old son),” said Lauren. “The staff greeted us with kindness and understanding and continuously checked in on us throughout the long flight.
“They recognised the difficult journey we were embarking on and made it as comfortable as they could for us.”
In a bid to give back to the charity that has given them so much and to do “something meaningful in Caoimhín’s memory”, the couple have now committed to taking on the gruelling Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
Explaining the reason for the challenge, Lauren said: “The Escape from Alcatraz feels symbolic in many ways—physically and emotionally challenging, but with a purpose behind every step.
“On the day, I think it will be a mix of emotions—pride, love, and remembrance. It’s not just a race for us, it’s a way of honouring Caoimhín and everything he means to us.
“It will be one of many things we do to keep his little memory alive. San Francisco also holds such a special place in our hearts so it only feels fitting to do something in the city where both our sons were born.”
Together, on Sunday June 7, 2026, the pair will compete as a relay team of two.
They have both been training in the lead-up to the event, but admit it’s “definitely a challenging course”.
Training and staying active has been a “really important outlet” for both parents and given them time to focus, reflect, and channel their energy into something positive.
Having set up a GoFundMe page to support their efforts, the couple have already raised more than £7,000 for KBRT. This has both overwhelmed and shocked the family, but in the best possible way, says Lauren.
While they have set a provisional target of £10,000 they say it’s just about “raising as much as we can to support the KBRT and the incredible work they do”.
“Every donation makes a difference, and if it helps even one other family, then it means everything to us,” said Lauren.
“This whole journey, training for the triathlon and fundraising, has been about honouring Caoimhín’s memory and turning our grief into something that might help another family,” she added. “That gives us a sense of purpose, and it’s something we’ll carry with us long after the finish line.”
Click here to make a donation to Lauren and Stephen’s Escape From Alcatraz fundraiser for KBRT.
