Surgeon backs ‘Happy Hearts’
Mr Nelligan, who has retired as Ireland’s top heart transplant surgeon, launched the Killorglin Happy Hearts Group in Co Kerry.
The group was set up in memory of former Fexco worker Kevin Melia, who died of a heart attack aged just 44 last November.
Up to 40 people have signed up to walk or run the Dublin City Marathon in October to raise funds for the Irish Heart Foundation.
The foundation said it will use the money to train transition year students as first responders — people who can give CPR to a person suffering a heart attack.
The Happy Hearts also hope to raise awareness of the dangers of heart disease.
“We want Happy Hearts to be an icon of something happy, positive and healthy,” a spokesperson said.
“We lost our friend and colleague to heart disease at a terribly young age and we are just thrilled so many people want to help by actually training or by sponsoring people.
“It doesn’t matter if you are totally out of shape, in shape, fit or unfit, this might be the spur you need to maybe give up the cigarettes, or lose a few pounds.
“It’s for a great cause and we hope it will be good fun too. Kevin gave a lot to so many people, we just want to give something back.”
Contact Happy Hearts Killorglin on 086-3844848 or 087-9081400. A bank account will be set up soon in a bank in Killorglin.
Meanwhile, the foundation is planning a fundraising walk on Sumatra, an island off Indonesia, from October 10 to 23.
Walkers will depart from Dublin Airport and travel to Medan, the capital of northern Sumatra, via Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
“This year’s walk promises to be that little bit special,” said foundation regional manager, Paddy O’Brien.
“Sumatra is famed for its orangutans and we hope to encounter these ‘gentlemen of the jungle’ as they are playfully known.
“From the highlands we will travel to the island of Samosir on Lake Toba — the largest volcanic lake in the world.”
Last year’s walk raised €255,000 and each walker must raise €5,400 to take part.
* Please contact the Irish Heart Foundation on 021 4505822.
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