TWO years after Damian Maguire’s tragic death, keeping his memory alive has never been more important to his mother Geraldine.
When the 24 year old Trillick man took his own life it plunged his close knit family into unspeakable grief but it also encouraged them, particularly his mother, to try and help others. 
After the death of ‘Damo’, Mrs. Maguire was determined to raise awareness and funding for mental health projects and now she is at it again, joined by family members and friends.
This Bank Holiday Monday (May 1) she will abseil with Team Damo, weather permitting, and take part in a 5k run and kayak in Killybegs, County Donegal and all in the hope of raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer and Darkness into Light.
Mrs. Maguire told The Impartial Reporter: “We have all been affected by either cancer or suicide and mental illness. Our angels in blue provide a most fabulous kind and caring service and help family and friends cope when a family member or friend is terminally ill. They are there with kindness, love and support in the most difficult and trying times.”
Mrs. Maguire believes mental health is “the poor relation of the health service” and while there is much talk about improving such care “very little appears to get done.”
“We have lots of people working away in the background providing support and guidance to those in need and who highlight the scant resources attributed to mental health,” she said.
“We miss Damian every day. He would want us to live life to the full and so his family and friends keep his memory alive by trying to help others,” added Mrs. Maguire.
“Marie Curie and Darkness into Light helped us and countless others and now I feel it is our duty to give something back so others can know the support we received and keep the great work of these two organisations going. Every little will help provide care and assistance for someone in need.”
Mrs. Maguire said she has appreciated the help and support of her “guiding star” Ferghal Corrigan who has been a fantastic assistance in organising this latest endeavour, describing him as an “inspiration and so wonderfully generous with his time and expertise.” Two years may have passed but Mrs. Maguire believes “you never get over the death of a child.”
“We continue to live, even laugh, but it is not the same without him,” she said.  To donate to Team Damo visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/geraldine-maguire-1