Sunday 5 October 2008

Cardinal welcomes launch of new Cancer Fund.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has welcomed the launch of a new fund which will
support women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. The "Andrea Kearney
Fund" has been established in memory of Andrea Kearney who died earlier this
year following a cancer diagnosis at the beginning of 2007 when she was 38
weeks pregnant with her fifth child.

Andrea was 41 when she died following 16 months of treatment in May 2008,
her husband Peter Kearney is Director of the Catholic Media Office.

Commenting on the launch of the fund, Cardinal O'Brien said;

"I am delighted to support the "Andrea Kearney Fund" and hope that in
the years to come it can offer support to women facing the difficult
challenge of coping with a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy. Andrea
was a remarkable woman of great faith who inspired many people. Her
strength throughout her illness was an example to us all. Through
this fund established in her name I'm sure she will continue to
inspire as she did in life."

Peter Kearney welcomed the Cardinal's comments;

"I am very grateful to Cardinal O'Brien for endorsing the "Andrea Kearney
Fund" and hope his support and the support of many others will help to make
our inaugural fundraising event a success."

Mr Kearney added;

"An evening of music and entertainment to raise funds to support women and
their families following a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy will be held at
the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow on Sunday 9 November. Among those performing
and supporting the event will be the co-founder of the fund, my brother Tony
Kearney, star of the BBC's "River City", as well as Ricky Ross & Lorraine
McIntosh of “Deacon Blue”, Johnny Beattie, the actor & broadcaster and Lou
Hickey, the singer and songwriter."

ENDS

Note to Editors

1.For more information and photographs please visit; www.andreakearney.org
2.Tickets priced at £25 (Includes wine & buffet) are available at
www.andreakearney.org where donations can also be made to the fund.


Peter Kearney
Director
Catholic Media Office
pk@scmo.org
0141 221 1168
07968 122291