"Ben and Catherine leave behind a legacy. They hit the hearts of the nation and the world with such an extraordinary love story."
"I am honoured to support The Mullany Fund, set up to help train new doctors and physiotherapists and keep the dreams of Cath and Ben alive."
Friday, September 19th, 2008 - News
Memorial Appeal Races to £16,000
A FUND set up in memory of Ben and Catherine Mullany has raised more than £16,000 in the fortnight since its launch.
Swansea Valley couple Ben and Cath were killed while on honeymoon in Antigua. Friends and members of the public have dug deep to donate money to The Mullany Fund, which gives financial help to UK students wishing to study medicine or physiotherapy.
It has also won the backing of the Duchess of York and Swansea City FC. Cath, a doctor at Singleton Hospital, was well known to the Swans after treating former striker Adebayo Akinfenwa for a broken leg and, more recently, Ferrie Bodde’s son Fernando when he was rushed into hospital with asthma.
“I remember Cath well and what’s happened is a tragedy,’’ said Bodde.
“She was very concerned about Fernando and the help she gave us was superb.
“It’s every parent’s nightmare when there’s something wrong with your child. But she put us at ease straightaway and made sure Fernando received the best treatment possible.
I’m glad to say he made a full recovery and the world would be a better place with more people like Cath.
“My family certainly won’t forget her and I’m sure she made her own family very proud.”
The Mullany Fund was set up by friends and families of Ben and Cath following the couple’s fatal shooting on July 27.
The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson became a patron of the charity after meeting Catherine’s family on a flight to Antigua, where they were due to identify the 31-year-old’s body.As well as speaking at the memorial service for the couple, held in Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral, she donated £10,000 to The Mullany Fund.
A collection at the service raised a further £1,989.60, while donations at local banks and via the internet have contributed £3,651.59.
The Post has put forward £1,000 — bringing the total so far to £16,641.19.
More money is expected to be raised in the coming weeks with a number of events planned. Among them will be a collection at the Swans’ Championship home game against Wolves on Saturday, October 4. Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez said: “It’s a great initiative and you can see all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to set it up.” “The fund will give a lot of joy to many people in the future.” “And I’m sure it’s an initiative that both Ben and Cath would have approved of.’’