Glens captain helps raise more than £22k for hospital that was ‘a rock’ after son passed away

GLENTORAN skipper Marcus Kane has praised the staff at the Royal Maternity Hospital after raising more than £22,000 for the centre following the passing of his infant son in December.

Marcus’ wife Aimee underwent a check-up at 32 weeks of pregnancy on her birthday but they received the awful news that their son no longer had a heartbeat, just a week before Christmas.

Harrie Kane was born on December 18, and his mum, dad and big sister Mollie were able to spend some precious time together at the Bereavement Care Centre at the Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast.

The family spent the next three days in the unit’s Snowdrop Room where bereaved parents can share some time with their child.

In an effort to show their appreciation to the staff in the centre, the Kane family — along with the help of Glentoran — set up the #Hikeforharrie campaign and have raised more than £22,000 for the Royal Maternity Hospital in just six weeks.

The response to the campaign has left the couple “gobsmacked” and Marcus said it was such a “special honour” for their son.

“We didn’t expect this to happen, it’s been so quick and long may it continue,” he added

“Me and Aimee had said, let’s start doing stuff during the lockdown because it was a bit tedious being around the house, so we thought it would be best to start being productive and doing stuff.

“The Glentoran media team came up with a great idea for the #Hikeforharrie and it just shot off, which is amazing.

“It’s just people exercising and letting them get their head showered for 20 to 30 minutes a day by going out for a walk, cycle, run or whatever you want to do.

“I’ve been out playing golf and that’s been my daily exercise but it’s more to do with people acknowledging Harrie and people thinking about our son.”

Reflecting on the death of his son, Marcus felt blessed to have an amazing family support network in what was such a difficult time for him and his wife.

With a special mention for their bereavement midwife, Barbara, Marcus said they wanted to raise the money for her and the rest of the staff because of their

Glentoran’s Marcus Kane, his wife Aimee

and daughter Mollie climbed Cave Hill as part of the #Hikeforharrie campaign.

Mollie is holding the teddy bear she named after her wee brother, Harrie; (top right) Marcus with Mollie in the Irish Cup

and (below right) playing for the Glens unwavering support and commitment.

“The staff were amazing,” said 28-year-old Marcus. “They were a rock for us and they were everything and above.

“Barbara, who is the head of bereavement midwives, has been amazing throughout. Even now she would talk to Aimee whenever she can and she would make time for her if she needed to speak about something.”

Even though six months have passed since they laid Harrie to rest on Christmas Eve, his parents have had good days and bad days, but Marcus and Aimee are always there to pick each other up.

And Harrie’s big sister Mollie has been a “ray of sunshine” through these dark times.

“You take a day at a time,” Marcus continued. “Some days where one of us is having a good day and the other is having a bad day, it’s good that there’s one of us there to cheer the other one up.

“We always have Mollie. Mollie has been a ray of sunshine whenever it comes to dealing with this.

“She has been unbelievable. She knows that Harrie has passed and she knows that he has went somewhere else.

“Mollie was a part of that and the bereavement midwife had actually said that the best way for kids to deal with it is to be told and not be kept in the dark.

“She got to spend time with Harrie and she’s constantly reminding us that Harrie is still here. Mollie has just been amazing in helping us deal with it.”

Harrie’s post-mortem was carried out at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Marcus and Aimee took the brave decision of sending their son there for three days but they visited the complex at the start of the year to see the work the work they do.

“My dad was going to watch a Liverpool match in the New Year and suggested that he would bring us over and we could visit the hospital,” Marcus explained.

“It was nice to see that he would have been taken good care of in the time he was away.

“When we were leaving the girl had given Aimee a bear to give to Mollie.

“As soon as we gave it to Mollie she straight away named it Harrie and he comes with us everywhere.”

For more information on the #Hikeforharrie campaign or if you would like to donate, visit the Justgiving page.

❝ Mollie is constantly reminding us Harrie is still here, she’s been amazing in helping us deal with it