On the 7th of September 2018 I received a phone call with the news that my Father and my best friend Don (Bubu) Carroll had died. It was the most devestating moment of my life and nothing will ever fill the void in my heart from losing him. 

At the time I had not known how he died but was told that foul play and suicide was ruled out. With that being a molecule of relief, I was still left with the seemingly endless anxious wait of a cornoners report which would detail the cause of death. 

After 7 months the coroners report came back and showed that he died from COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. The main cause of COPD is chronic smoking.

To be honest I had never heard COPD until that moment. It was a disease he had that he kept secret from me and probably most of his family and friends.  My father had been a very heavy smoker for the majority of his life. 

Because this disease took away my father, my best friend and the man who made me the person I am today, Id like to set up a way of rasing some funds for 'COPD SUPPORT IRELAND'. 

I have decided to give up alcohol for 1 year to help raise these funds. Over the past year I have found myself drinking so excessively to the point where I don't remremember anything the morning after. I feel it taking a massive tole on my body and my health overall. I dont smoke but have often had "a fag or 2" while drinking. This then causes me to feel guilty and disappointed in myself as cigarettes are the reason my best friend is no longer around. 

I will use the platform of social media and write weekly updates on how life without alcohol is like. I appreciate anyone who has read my story and anyone who donates to COPD SUPPORT IRELAND. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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