Family continue to honour late mother with annual fundraiser

THE O’Rourke family from Clarina will once again lace up their running shoes in memory of Mary O’Rourke, a much-loved mother, grandmother, and wife who tragically passed away from Covid-19 in early 2022.

At just 58 years old, Mary had lived with the chronic pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis for many years. Now, her family is honouring her legacy by raising funds and awareness for Arthritis Ireland, a cause close to Mary’s heart.

Mary's son Peter spoke candidly about his motivations behind this annual event, which takes place as part of the Great Limerick Run. “It keeps her memory kind of fresh in other people's minds and raises awareness about it, (Arthritis), something that affected her and also something she was quite passionate about,” said Peter, reflecting on the four years of fundraising efforts.

“It kind of seriously impacted her even though she was very good at hiding it... The average person might have seen that she was still quite active and had a decent quality of life but her treatment plan for it was constantly changing.”

READ MORE: New UL initiative to raise awareness of students with caring responsibilities

Arthritis is one of Ireland’s most common yet misunderstood chronic conditions, affecting one million people nationwide. Peter hopes to raise awareness around the different types of arthritis and how it affects people day to day. “I couldn't get over the stats. A million people in Ireland are affected by Arthritis.”

The first fundraising run in 2022 came just a few months after Mary’s death, and since then, Peter's family have made it a yearly tradition. What started as a small group of people raising funds through their own social media has grown each year, with over 30 participants already signed up for this year’s event.

Speaking about the fundraiser, Peter said: “It gives me a bit of purpose ... It feels like I'm able to still do things for my mom.” He also praised the support of Arthritis Ireland. “They have helped us promote it, and they have been extremely appreciative of the efforts because it's definitely been significantly successful.”

The Great Limerick Run is set for Sunday, May 4, and participants can join the O’Rourke's’ fundraising team by signing up to run in memory of Mary and in support of Arthritis Ireland. Donations can be made via the team’s official fundraising page, which is available on the Arthritis Ireland website.