by Two brothers from Co Londonderry have spoken of going high on the other side of the world in a bid to raise money for a charity which supported their mother.
Sean O'Kane, 25, and his brother Eoghan, 24, raised almost £9,000 for the Marie Curie charity on the 20th anniversary of their mother Martina's death.
The brothers were young children when their mother died of cancer aged 37 on November 20, 2003.
Marie Curie took care of her at home.
She has missed so many of our family milestones so to be able to do this and raise money for Marie Curie who looked after her so well is really something
Sean O'Kane
Eoghan, an electrician, moved to Sydney in June with his girlfriend, where Sean, an actuary, joined him for the fundraising parachute.
“It was great to do the skydive and really exciting as it was something we'd never done before,” said Sean.
“It was also very emotional for us just before and after we jumped, we were just thinking about mum as we were doing it in her memory.
“Mum's 20th anniversary is a very special anniversary for us as a family as my sister Naomh is expecting our family's first grandchild and we know how happy she would be about that.
“She's missed so many of our family milestones, so to be able to do this and raise money for Marie Curie who looked after her so well is something.”
Eoghan said: “We will remember and honor mummy as a family on her anniversary, as we have done every year for as long as I can remember.
“We keep her memory alive for all of us by coming together surrounded by family and friends on her anniversary and special family occasions.”
Their aunt and mother's sister, Sandra Kelly, from Belfast, said their mother would have been proud of all four of her children.
“When Sean and Eoghan told me they were doing the skydive, I thought it was very brave to do it,” he said.
“I'm honored to be their aunt and excited that they completed the parachute. Martina would be the proudest mother in the world of all four of her children, now 20 years later.”
The family raised just over £70,000 for Marie Curie from a gala ball to mark the first anniversary of Martina's death, and also raised more than £7,000 for Marie Curie to mark the 10th anniversary.
The charity recently launched its Give Care, Comfort and Joy Christmas appeal.
Details of the donation can be found at www.mariecurie.org.uk.
