In Memory of Aidan Fitzpatrick
Aidan was a real family man, loving dad, husband and a loyal friend. He had a huge passion for sport and achieved All-Ireland titles and a Blues Awards from Queens University in Belfast.
Sport was always a big part of the Fitzpatrick household. Aidan had achieved a lot in sport personally and his own five children have always been heavily involved in sport. So, it was no surprise to his family that he jumped at the chance to volunteer with Special Olympics Ulster.
His volunteer career began by filling a temporary coaching position with Wizards Special Olympics Club in Bangor. This soon led to a permanent position that he relished in. He brought great passion and experience to his role and his club nights were always fun and full of laughter.
In his professional capacity, Aidan worked for the Equality Commission where he was dedicated to providing equality and opportunity in the work place and society.
Sadly, Aidan passed away last year.
Incredibly, Aidan’s family, friends and work colleagues have fundraised and donated to Special Olympics, in his memory. You can donate in his memory here.
Aidan’s wife, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, shared with us: “We chose to donate to Special Olympics because it was such a perfect reflection of all that Aidan stood for - equality, sport, team spirit, opportunity and fun! Aidan valued every minute he spent with Special Olympics. He saw the impact it made on the athletes, and the opportunities it provided. Aidan was dedicated to his volunteering, and we knew the money raised would go to a very good cause - one that Aidan believed passionately in, and one that he was proud to represent. “
We would like to sincerely thank Deirdre and her family for allowing us to share this story in conjunction with Legacy Month.
There are a number of ways you can donate in memory of a loved one.
- Donate online in memory of your loved one
- Set up a dedicated fundraising page in memory of a loved one. This can be set up through Just Giving or Facebook
- Organise or take part in a fundraising challenge or event in memory of a loved one and involve friends and family. This can be done through the online pages mentioned above.
You can also find out more about Legacy giving here.
