Kieran, 8, finishes marathon in memory of his father

The recent death of his dad gave 8-year-old Kieran Thomas all the impetus he needed to carry him across the finish line and into the waiting arms of his mother at yesterday’s Cork City Marathon.

Less than a month ago, Sarah was planning to bring Kieran to the race early to cheer on his dad Leon, saving their biggest roar for when he crossed the finishing line.

Instead, Sarah found herself cheering her son after her husband, 33-year-old Leon Thomas, a fit athlete and father of three, died as a result of sudden adult death syndrome, a condition that kills 100 people under the age of 35 in Ireland a year.