Memorial walk for ‘Angel’ Ailish
Ashleigh Cowhey, a pupil at Crescent College Comprehensive SJ in Limerick, has led a series of funding efforts for ‘Oscar’s Kids Ireland‘ a charity that provided huge support for her aunt, Ailish Cowhey, throughout her terminal illness. The charity is the first of its kind in Ireland for children with cancer.
On 17 April 2023 Ailish Cowhey sadly passed away at just seventeen years old. She had been diagnosed with brain cancer a short while earlier. Since her death her niece Ashleigh has worked hard to raise funds in her memory. Ashleigh and Ailish were very close with just nine months between them. Both were in the same class at Crescent College and due to sit the leaving certificate together. Ashleigh helped carry Ailish’s coffin along with Ailish’s five sisters at her funeral mass in Christ the King Church Caherdavin in Limerick.
Ashleigh’s fellow school friends have rallied around her and been a great support in her fundraising efforts. On 23 October 2023 Ashleigh organised a five km ‘pink memorial walk’. Pink was Ailish’s favourite color. All of her classmates wore pink for the walk and honored Ashleigh’s request not to buy, but instead rummage through their wardrobes in order to save their money for Oscars Kids Ireland. Family, friends and the sixth year students and staff from Crescent College all took part and they didn’t let the heavy downpours get in the way. Ashleigh has created a gofundme page » for the walk which has already reached €13,000.00. A bake sale the previous week almost transformed the school into a bakery and more money was raised.
Ashleigh has set up an Instagram page ‘Ailish’s Angels » in memory of her beloved aunt. A recent post shows Ashleigh has managed to source an Irish Rugby World Cup jersey signed by all of the players. Tickets for the raffle will go on sale soon.
