Event to be held in memory of Baby JJ 

A NORTHSIDE sports club is holding an event this weekend in memory of a baby boy who died of cot death last year.

On Sunday, February 16 the Swords Boxing Club community will host a first year anniversary charity coffee morning in memory of Baby JJ Harford who died at just ten-weeks-old on February 17, 2019.

The special event is being organised by Baby JJ's parents, Gráinne and Joey Skelly Harford, along with his sisters Amber and Ava.

Speaking about their son, Gráinne said: "This past year has been the most difficult year in our families’ lives after losing a much-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.

“To celebrate Christmas morning with our two daughters with the biggest pain in our heart wishing our son was here with his family too, then having to also pick out a headstone for JJ on his first birthday instead of buying him gifts. 

“How do you even call a headstone nice, what is the word for it? But I wanted it to say what I felt about JJ and how special he was in our lives. He may have only been here for a short while but he brought us so much happiness and made us all smile.”

All funds raised on the day are being donated to FirstLight, who, since 1976, have been providing crisis intervention and free professional counselling services throughout Ireland to bereaved parents and family members whose child has died suddenly up to 18 years. 

Gráinne said: “Throughout this year fundraising and raising awareness of cot death has been my goal and I would like to thank each and every person who has shown their support to us and to FirstLight by keeping Baby JJ in their thoughts and his memory alive.

"For any family to lose a child it's heartbreaking. A part of you dies with them. There is an emptiness that cannot ever be filled. Only other families in our same position really understand this, and we hope they also can get the support and counselling they need to be provided by FirstLight."

Those attending the event in memory of Baby JJ and in aid of FirstLight include Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O'Brien, European Boxing Gold Medallist and Sports Star of the Year 2019 Niamh Fay, as well as Fair City actress and FirstLight Ambassador Una Crawford O'Brien. 

Chief executive of FirstLight Fionnuala Sheehan said: "We would like to sincerely thank the entire Harford family and Swords Boxing Club community who have worked tirelessly to support FirstLight these past 12 months. Their support has gone on to help so many other FirstLight families."

For more information on the service FirstLight provides, visit www.firstlight.ie