RIP: Friend's one ask after Galway dad dies 'suddenly and too young'
His close friend has created a fundraiser but is also hoping that it might strike a chord with the public especially men
The friend of a Galway dad who died ‘suddenly and too young’ is asking people to do one thing as he sets out on a running fundraiser in his memory.
Adrian ‘Wally’ Walsh died unexpectedly on July 9 surrounded by his family in University Hospital Galway.
The Salthill man was only 50 years old at the time of his sudden death with his month’s mind mass coinciding with the Streets of Galway running event.
His friend Justin thought it would be a fitting weekend to hold a fundraiser in his honour pleading with his friends and the rest of the public to “get the MOT done on yourselves”.
The GoFundMe page reads: “Hi, my name is Justin and I am running the 8km Streets of Galway on the 8th of August in memory of my friend Adrian Walsh who passed away on the 9th of July.
“So, I'm running on the day of his Month’s Mind Mass, which is at 5:30pm at Salthill Church.
“Adrian was an amazing, funny, grateful, loving father to Niamh and friend, especially to Niamh’s mother Crissy, but also to so many.
“He was a whirlwind of energy and loved by all. He passed away too young and suddenly at only 50 years of age.
“I’m hoping my run will raise a few quid for the Irish Heart Foundation and maybe one or two of my friends will go and get the auld MOT done on themselves soon - especially my male friends. A true friend, loved and lost, R.I.P Adrian.”
The fundraiser has already raised €2,500 of its €3,500 target as of Tuesday with several days left to go until the run across Galway city on Saturday.
Adrian is deeply missed by his daughter Niamh, her mother and his best friend Chrissie Callanan, sister-in-law Orla Walsh, brothers-in-law Michael Cox and Derek Stubbs, nephews and nieces; Sarah, Paddy, Ciara, Mossy, Amy, Micheál, Aislinn and Aoife, aunts and uncles, cousins and many close friends.