One foot in front of the other
On August 25th, 2023, we said goodbye to our daughter Ella in New York, as she began the second half of a Dual BA degree at Columbia University. Three weeks later, the Gardai knocked on our door in the early hours of the morning to tell us that our beloved girl had died in a kayaking accident.
While I stayed with our other children, my wife Jo-Ann flew to the US to bring Ella home. Ella was insured, she had died in a developed country with which Ireland has impeccable relations, and Jo-Ann had the dedicated help of the Gardai liaison service in Washington. But despite all of this, the repatriation process was harrowing and fraught with complications.
In the course of this heartbreaking journey, we became aware of the work of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. This organisation aims to alleviate some of the financial and logistical hardship faced by those who have lost family members abroad in tragic circumstances, and to help them bring the remains of their loved ones back to Ireland.
On August 25th, 2024, at West Wood Club in Clontarf, I ran a marathon (844 laps), in a swimming pool. The finish time of 19h58m25s, pending verification from Guinness World Records, will set the world record for aqua running this distance.
My thanks to the many who supported me in preparation and in the attempt.
Please support the important work of the KBRT, using the ‘Donate’ button. Thank you!
Ralph Mills.
Co-organizers (2)
Ralph Mills
Organizer
Northern Ireland
Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust
Beneficiary
Official Leinster Supporters Club
Co-organizer