Scottish Catholic Observer

Scottish mother of five Andrea Kearney died on May 2008, aged 41, after being diagnosed with breast cancer while expecting her last child. The Andrea Kearney Fund, established by her widower Peter Kearney, director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office, supports other women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy.

Groups and individuals have undertaken fundraising in Andrea’s memory, helping to swell the coffers of the fund which have also been supported so far by four large-scale benefits nights with the help of celebrities and businesses.

The fifth Andrea Kearney Fundraising Dinner is taking place at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow on Saturday June 1 at 7pm. Guests will enjoy a three-course meal, complimentary wine and a programme of entertainment from some of Scotland’s most talented musicians and performers, which this year includes Elaine C Smith, Ricky Ross, Michelle McManus and Lou Hickey. Guests know that their ticket price and donations will be put to very good use by the fund.

Below, Mr Kearney tells the SCO how the fund has helped his family, and others like them, on the path of having a loved one with cancer.

— Book your ticket for the Andrea Kearney Benefit dinner at http://www.andreakearney.org/Andrea_Kearney/Home.html

SCO: Peter, the benefit on June 1 2013 is the fifth large-scale fundraiser for the Andrea Kearney Fund, named in memory of your late wife. The fund helps other women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy, like Andrea. Has being involved in this work also helped you and your family?

PK: As we prepare for the fifth fundraising dinner (previous ones were held in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012) I realise the fund has done three things: really helped women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy; given me something to focus on will coping with her loss and kept her name alive—for me and the children but also for many others who knew and loved her.

SCO:  Your youngest son was just a baby when Andrea passed away five years ago, your oldest, your daughter, is now a young woman. How do you keep their memories of their mum fresh and inspiring for them?

PK: My youngest, Philip, is now 6 years old and my oldest, Louisa, is 17. To them, and their brothers; Thomas, Joseph and Christopher, the Andrea Kearney Fund is ‘Mum’s Fund!’ It is one of many reminders of her and a tribute to the generous and loving person she was. Her paintings hang on our walls and she is in our thoughts and conversations all the time.

SCO: The Andrea Kearney benefits have been so successful and strike an inspiring balance between celebrating life, highlighting the challenges of cancer and fundraising with amazing celebrity and community support. Does this surprise you? Is there anything you would like to say to those who help?

PK: I have always been amazed at people’s generosity, in contributing to the fund through various sponsorship efforts, in attending the dinner and donating, I am eternally grateful to all those who help. I have also been extremely grateful for the support of so many well known performers, this year is no different:  Elaine C Smith, Ricky Ross, Michelle McManus and Lou Hickey will all contribute and perform, I want to thank them all.

SCO: Can you tell our readers more about the fund and the work it does, and if and how it has changed or evolved since its beginnings?

PK:  It remains the only fund in the UK that supports women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. The way it works really has not needed to change since it began in 2008.

We have no overheads or administration costs, so we raise money and then give it to women who meet the criteria in no-strings attached grants, what they do with the payments is entirely up to them.

SCO: Fundraising is always a challenge, especially so in the current economic climate. Have you had to think outside the box? What fundraising projects have others undertaken for the fund and what could people do?

 PK:  The current climate is very difficult for charitable fundraising, many bigger organisations than ours have cancelled events because of a lack of support. We are lucky to have such a dedicated core of supporters. There is no magic formula, keep telling people about what you do, phone, text, mail and ask them to tell their friends. Hosting events in a wonderful venue with amazing performers helps!

SCO: How has your Faith, and Faith community, supported you and been affected by Andrea’s passing and your work with the fund in her memory?

PK:  I was fortunate to be in a position where I was close to many bishops and priests. Their support was overwhelming and deeply valued. Andrea’s death, however seemed to be the most spectacular example of prayers not being answered leaving me with a very different view of intercessory prayers from the one I had—and suspect many Catholics may have—before. That is probably something we need to think about more deeply when we ‘pray’ for someone.