Adi Roche, CEO, Chernobyl Children International made the following statement on hearing the tragic news of Ian McKeever’s death this morning:
‘Ian McKeever will always be one of my heroes. If I had to think of Ian’s attributes I would list his enthusiasm, wisdom, humour, vibrancy and vision and his absolute living to the letter, the power of the possible. He had unstoppable energy and had such a ‘can do’ philosophy in life. He never saw a dark side to anything and met every challenge with sheer determination. Ian was a once-off model and after they created him they threw away the mould.
My first image of Ian almost 20 years ago was on a bike at the end of a fundraising Santa Cycle from Dublin to Cork for Chernobyl Children International and Crumlin Children’s Hospital. He rounded the last corner as he headed into Cork, exhausted and drained but still smiling to the last. Irish children and the children of Chernobyl will be the poorer for his loss.
Ian will remain in our memory as a huge role model, someone truly unique who will forever be an inspiration to us all. Our prayers and sympathies are with Ian’s family and friends and we pray for a speedy recovery of Ian’s fiancé, Ann.’
On a final note, Ian was a wonderful friend to Chernobyl Children International and worked on many initiatives and events including work with the Alzheimers Association. He was a mentor, a teacher, a guide and an inspiration for thousands of students throughout Ireland.
A prolific author, Ian’s last book focused on the lives of 15 Irish heroes ‘Give me Irish Heroes’, where proceeds were donated to the work of Chernobyl Children International. In August 2012, Ian led a group of 145 Irish students to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro setting a Guinness World Record while raising much needed funds for Chernobyl Children International and Crumlin Hospital.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.