I am going to take part in this year’s Movember fundraising campaign by growing a moustache and also getting moving myself by running (& sometimes walking) 60 miles in the month of Movember to promote awareness for all men’s health but also to remember Stephen and raise funds for a playground in his memory.

I worked alongside Stevo for 5 years. Most afternoons I played football alongside him against a team of 4 or 5 nine and ten year olds with a unrivalled determination to win. Of course we couldn’t just let them win easily, as they would know we weren’t giving 100%…& this would be worse to them than losing!

Instead each match was a Cup Final in itself, a fine line to be trod between skill, feint, luck and amateur dramatics. Stevo had all of the above and was a master of the last second winning goal, usually with a header or a volley! When the school bell went, he was also regarded as a fine footballer in his own right when he togged out with the grown ups at Thursday evening 5-a-side and with his pals in Cabra.

The school where Stephen worked in the Phoenix Park continues on without him after they lost him suddenly and unexpectedly in July. It does so though, with a solid foundation of core values that he lived his life by left behind - family, community, humour, kindness and care.

I hope to raise a few hundred euros to add directly to the JustGiving campaign already up and running by the school. When the school has fundraised enough they will be commissioning a new outdoor playground to be located in the school garden in the Phoenix Park, which will be dedicated to Stephen in his memory.

Please support me if you can in raising funds for ’Stevo’s Memorial Playground’. 

Thank you.!