A PATRICKSWELL man is gearing up to run from Wicklow to Kerry next month in aid of Epilepsy Ireland. Derek Mackessy will take off on June 27 and plans to complete the trail, the E8 walking route, in 10 to 14 days. It starts at Bray Head, Wicklow, and finishes at Bray Head, Valentia.

The Limerick man was inspired to complete the mammoth run to help epilepsy sufferers, after his sister, Nicola Mackessy, passed away in 2015 from Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), a fatal complication of epilepsy.

Nicola was just 33 years old when she died.

“It’s my way of giving back to a charity that was so good to Nicola when she was alive and also to raise awareness of SUDEP” said Derek.

SUDEP is defined as sudden, unexpected death of an individual with epilepsy where a post mortem examination does not reveal a cause of death.

The money raised from the run will contribute towards the programmes Epilepsy Ireland run in educating the families of those who have epilepsy, as well as the research into epileptic conditions, such as SUDEP.

“Nicola was on thirty tablets a day. There was a lot of time spent in hospitals. We know what other families are facing. It’s tough seeing your loved ones go through that,” said Derek.

After an incident at work in 2007 left him suffering from depression, Derek’s parents Pat and Martha advised him to train for a marathon. He found real solace and positivity in running.

To contribute to Derek’s fundraising effort, go to www.give.everydayhero.com and search ‘coast to coast’ to find his page.