Published: Wednesday, 10th June, 2009 4:05pm

Beloved mum's charity keeps growing

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A DOTING dad has expressed his gratitude for the support he and his family have received since his wife"s untimely passing.

Andrea Kearney, 41, passed away in May last year when she developed cancer while pregnant with their fifth child.

And husband Peter spoke to the Barrhead News on the first anniversary of his family"s sad loss.

He said: 'The overall feeling is still disbelief and amazement and it doesn"t feel like a year has just passed.

'Sometimes it feels like just last week.

'I don"t know of anyone who has been in this situation so it is impossible to speak with anyone who has gone through the same experiences.

'As a family we have just been planning things from week to week.'

Exactly a year ago, Peter set up the Andrea Kearney Fund which helps other women who find themselves in the position his wife did.

And the 46-year-old was keen to thank his kids" schools for their help through such an emotional time.

He added: 'The kids are doing really well and I think part of the reason for this is a combination of the love they got from their mum when she was here and over the last two years we have had tremendous support.

'I would especially like to thank Maria McBride at St Thomas" Primary School and Patricia Scott at St Luke"s High School.

'The schools have given the children some fantastic support.

'The fund is exactly a year old and is growing, we just had our 2009 raffle and the focus now will be our November 1 2009 fundraiser.

'The inaugural event at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow raised £10,000 so I would be hoping we will at least equal that fundraiser.

'The fund is going well and I am so grateful to so many people in Neilston and Barrhead for the support they have given us.'

The future of the charity is to keep growing and the focus will change towards helping women who are in the same situation Andrea was.

It has helped people from the Shetlands all the way to Cambridgeshire.

Special guests at the fundraiser in November are still to be finalised but Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh of Deacon Blue are confirmed.

To make a donation to the Andrea Kearney Fund or for more information on the charity go to www.andreakearney.org