A devoted father has today completed an extraordinary 258-mile charity walk from London to Liverpool in memory of his daughter, raising £7,300 for Liverpool Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, a total that will be increased to £10,000 thanks to additional support from his employer, Rhodar.
At 11:30am today, Fran O’Brien arrived at the Zoe’s Place hospice in West Derby, marking the end of his nine-day journey, a challenge undertaken to honour the nine precious days he shared with his daughter, Lily May O’Brien, who sadly passed away in 2003.
Lily May was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare and devastating congenital heart condition. During her short life, she and her family were cared for at Zoe’s Place, where Fran says they were shown “compassion, love, and the strength to face the impossible.”
To commemorate her life and support the hospice that cared for them, Fran walked 258 miles in nine days, covering the equivalent of a marathon each day. His route began on 22nd November at Rhodar’s Barking office in London and took him through communities including Potters Bar, St Albans, Luton, Northampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and many others before reaching Liverpool today.
The challenge forms part of Rhodar’s Charity-6 initiative, with Fran’s family travelling alongside him in support vehicles, helping to raise awareness and funds in the towns and villages they passed.
Speaking at the finish line today, Fran said:
“Lily May changed our lives forever. We only had nine days with her, but they were filled with love, hope, and heartbreak. Liverpool Zoe’s Place cared for her with such tenderness, and they held our family when we needed it most. This walk was my way of honouring her life and giving something back to the place that supported us through the unimaginable.”
Liverpool Zoe’s Place provides specialist palliative care and respite for babies and young children with life-limiting and complex needs. The charity relies heavily on fundraising to continue offering its services to families across Liverpool and the wider region.
Matt Meany, Head of Fundraising from Liverpool Zoe’s Place, said:
“We are incredibly moved by Fran’s powerful tribute to Lily and his remarkable commitment to supporting Zoe’s Place. His strength, love, and determination are an inspiration to us all, and the funds he has raised will make a real difference to the babies and families we care for. We are honoured that Fran chose to finish this emotional journey here at the hospice.”
Fran is encouraging supporters to continue donating and to help raise awareness of the essential work carried out by Zoe’s Place.
Donations can be made here.
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