Photos show Kerry rallying around brave Paul Murphy as 'Push for ...
It’s testament to just how well loved Listry’s Paul Murphy is that his wife Linda struggled to fully put into words just how amazing the last week has been for her and her family, such is the massive support that the recent finale of the ‘Push for Paul’ campaign received.
For those unfamiliar with his story, Paul Murphy, while technically a Wexford native, has in recent years been embraced by all in his local Kerry community, all of whom have rallied around the married father of two since October of 2019.
It was then that Paul got the news that he had been diagnosed with something known as Mitochondrial Myopathy Disease, a condition that is similar to Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Paul Murphy giving the 'Push for Paul' event the two thumbs up from his hospital bed.
A debilitating disease, it has now left the former avid rugby player wheelchair bound with his motor skills also impaired.
In these, his darkest moments, Paul’s friends and family have consistently been a source of light and comfort for him, something most recently seen in the mammoth nationwide trek that was ‘Push for Paul’.
The event, which finished at Killarney Racecourse this past Saturday (April 27) was a sponsored wheelchair push that started all the way back up in Drogheda on April 21.
From left: Brenda, Maureen and Angela Brennan with Claire Doyle supporting the ‘Push For Paul’ fundraiser at the Killarney Racecourse on Saturday. Photo by Tatyana McGough
The group, in relays and over the course of the week, pushed a teddy bear wearing a sponsored jersey all the way from Louth right down to Killarney.
The first day saw the event go from Drogheda to Slane while day two went from Slane to Trim. On day three, it was onto Tullamore while on day four, the group finished for the day in Nenagh. After Nenagh, day five finished up in Adare while the sixth day finished up in Castleisland.
The committee of the ‘Push For Paul’ campaign: Front (from left): Brendan Barrett, Matthew Farrell; back row: Mark McNulty, Kevin Conway, Joe Heavey, John Heavey and John Brosnan, pictured at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday. Photo by Tatyana McGough.
The final day, Saturday, saw the group make the final trek from Castleisland to Killarney Racecourse.
Speaking to The Kerryman on Tuesday, Paul’s wife Linda blown away by the support.
“We felt so supported as we came into Killarney. You could feel the spirit in the air as well as the welcoming and the comfort,” she said.
From left: Nicola McDonnell, Brenda Fitzgerald, Ronan McDonnell and Lily McDonnell
“We were getting phone calls all week and then we joined the walk on the Thursday and the Friday as well as the Saturday. I was in the van and people were waving and stopping over to us and telling us well done and that what we were doing was extraordinary.”
Brendan Fuller of Radio Kerry (from left) interviewing John Heavey and Paul’s wife Linda at the ‘Push For Paul’ fundraiser at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday. Photo by Tatyana McGough.
“People who didn’t know us came up and supported us all the way down from Louth to here in Kerry,” Linda continued.
As for the man of the hour himself, Paul, while he was unable to be a part of the event in his honour due to having to go into hospital in recent weeks, she relayed a message from him and said that he is incredibly grateful for the support that everyone has given to him.
From left: Patricia Heavey, Catherine Heavey, Seán Kelly MEP, Fiona Brosnan, Leona Barrett and Brendan Barrett supporting the ‘Push For Paul’ fundraiser, pictured at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday. Photo by Tatyana McGough.
“Six of the organisers, they called in to see him in hospital on the Sunday. They came up to the ward two at a time to say hello to him. He was just so thankful and it was lovely for the organisers to get to see him as well. They presented him with a little guest book that everyone had signed with messages of support. We feel really cared and supported,” she said.
From left: Eanna Murphy, Sean O’Donnell, Grace O’Connor, Sarah McAuliffe, Rose Cahillane and Roisin McAuliffe supporting the ‘Push For Paul’ fundraiser. Photo by Tatyana McGough.
At the time of writing, the fundraiser has raised an incredible amount of money with the online fundraising page currently sitting at over €140,000 raised so far with this figure set only to rise as more money rolls in over the weekend.
Follow ‘Push for Paul’ on Facebook for any and all further updates.
