James Griffin, aged 41 passed away suddenly as a result of heart complications from having Marfan syndrome on the 20th of November 2021.

In memory of James, his family & friends are taking part in this year's Great Limerick Run 2022 to raise awareness of Marfan syndrome and generate funds for further research. Funds raised will be donated to the Marfan Trust.

Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder of the body’s connective tissue that leads to medical problems affecting the heart, eyes and skeleton, requiring treatment to prevent life-threatening complications. It affects men, women and children of any race or ethnic group. 

Unfortunately, Marfan syndrome can be difficult to diagnose because signs of the condition vary greatly from person to person. Most affected people will not have all the signs and complications of Marfan syndrome. The most common feature is excessive height and long limbs, fingers and toes. This may be accompanied by a protruding or concave chest bone.

James was unaware he had Marfan syndrome and it is estimated somewhere between 500 and 1000 people are affected in Ireland. Greater awareness could help save lives and an early detection is essential. Through this fundraiser our hope would be to get at least 1 person in Ireland diagnosed. This can make an incredible difference.

James’ energy was unforgettable, he had such a strong intuition to the needs of others. While this fundraiser is in memory of James, it represents his lasting spirit by helping others. Despite our tragic loss, James would want us to enjoy life, be happy, remember him, celebrate his memory and most importantly, love ourselves. This is our motto for the fundraiser.

To get a picture of how incredible a man James was, a website has been setup to capture memories of James's life and can be found here https://rememberingjamesgr.wixsite.com/my-site

For further information on Marfan syndrome and the Marfan Trust, please visit https://www.marfantrust.org/