‘Kieran would be so proud’

Parachute jump fundraiser in memory of local man raises over €18,000 in one week

It's nearly a year since Linda Dunican suffered the loss of her husband and the father of her two young boys. Kieran Dunican, a 41-year-old farmer from Rosemount, tragically collapsed and died while out for a run on September 8.

His passing, from sudden cardiac death, devastated his family and many friends in the communities of Rosemount, Moate, Horseleap and Tubber.

With the first anniversary approaching, Linda (nee Heavin), along with 22 of Kieran's family members, friends and neighbours, have decided to take part in a charity parachute jump in his memory, which has already raised thousands of euro for the Irish Heart Foundation.

The skydive, from Clonbullogue airfield in Offaly, is planned for August 26 and an iDonate fundraising page, which was set up by Linda on Thursday last, has already raised over €18,000. More than 350 people have supported the cause with individual donations.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Linda said she was "gobsmacked" by the public response to the fundraiser.

"It's mindblowing. Kieran was so well-liked, and known, and the generosity of people is amazing. It's gone way beyond our expectations," she said.

Her husband was born with a heart condition and underwent heart valve surgery in February 2021. He had recovered well after the operation, so his passing came completely out of the blue.

Linda said she was hopeful that the fundraising challenge next month would create awareness of heart health, sudden cardiac death, and how life can change in an instant.

"It's been really tough. I'm the type of person who has to be busy, or focusing on something, so I felt this was a good thing to focus on," she said.

And she knows a parachute jump challenge is the kind of fundraiser that Kieran would have approved.

"He would be really proud, I think, because he loved that kind of stuff. He actually did a parachute jump himself a number of years ago. He was always asking me to do it, and I would say, 'No, not a fear of it, never!'"

She said she and the vast majority of those taking part in the jump have never done anything like this before.

"We're all like, 'Oh God, what are we doing?'" she laughed. "But the way I look at it is, nothing really fazes me anymore, so I'll just go with it. Life's for living, so let's just go, hope for the best, and have a great day in his memory."

She said that, if the weather cooperates, the jump will happen on August 26 and there will be a gathering that night to acknowledge the funds raised and to celebrate Kieran's life.

Linda, a Moate native and mother of Luke (5) and Ollie (3), is based in Rosemount on the family's dairy farm.

She said the ten months since the bereavement had been "a rollercoaster" but that the local community had been hugely supportive.

"It has gone way beyond these areas, but there is a huge community in Rosemount and Moate who have really gotten behind us with everything over the last ten months or so, and it's really appreciated."

In addition, she said the Irish Heart Foundation had been "really helpful and encouraging" in relation to the fundraiser.

The 23 parachute jumpers have each covered the cost of their own jumps in Clonbullogue in Co Offaly, meaning all of the funds raised will be going directly to the Irish Heart Foundation.

The 'Jump for Kieran' fundraising webpage can be found here and donations can be made up right until August 26.