A Co Tyrone man is running 5K every day for the next month in memory of his sister on what would have been her sixteenth birthday.
Corey Flanagan’s sister Aimee was stillborn on March 15 2006, when Corey was just six years old.
In order to mark the milestone birthday, Douglas Bridge man Corey is taking on the running challenge and raising funds for Sands NI.
Read more: Co Tyrone woman raises thousands for family member who passed away after giving birth
Corey told MyTyrone the charity was critical in helping his mum Michelle and dad Patrick during a very difficult time for the family.
“I was only six at the time so I didn’t really understand it that much, but mum will never forget what they did for her during that time,” Corey said.
“From what I do remember and what they have said over the years it just hit them so hard, and it took them a long time to get over it.
“I was an only child at the time so Aimee was only their second child, it was so hard for them.
“They did have good family support around them, but definitely every year around this time you can tell it does hit my mum quite hard.
“Sands were just really helpful to them, especially around the whole mental health side of it.”
A GAA player with local club Naomh Eoghan, the 22-year-old said the challenge is proving tough already in the early stages.
“Coming up to her sixteenth I thought it would be good to do something to mark the occasion, so that’s when I thought about doing the 5k very day for a month.
“I’m about a week into it now already and I’m definitely feeling it, the legs are tight that’s for sure.
“I was really into running before but I had kind of fallen away from it a wee bit, so they are getting harder every day.”
If you would like to donate to Corey's fundraising efforts for Sands NI, you can find more information here.
Read more: Meet the Co Tyrone actor set to co star on episode of crime series Law and Order
Read more: Co Tyrone sees return of St Patrick’s Day celebrations - in pictures
For the latest breaking Co Tyrone news straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter here.
