By Julie Waters
FITNESS friends of former Bangor solicitor Darren Duncan have shown their strength by raising £2,000 for charity in his memory.
As well as being a recognised and popular solicitor, the 48 year old was a ‘much loved’ founding member of MCI Health and Performance, in Balloo.
A devoted father, husband, son and brother, Darren sadly passed away in July 2023 away, with one of the many tributes hailing him as a ‘one of life’s good guys’.
Jacqui Pope, MCI health and performance owner, said the passing of their friend last summer ‘shook us all’ and they set about completing a host of fitness challenges to raise vital funds for the pancreatic cancer charity NIPANC.
Along with her husband Gary, Jacqui and their intrepid members have flexed their muscles in events such as Belfast Marathon, Pedal the Periphery, the North Down Throwdown and the Donaghadee Sea Sprint Triathlon.
They were delighted to present their fundraising total to NIPANC, a Northern Ireland charity that works to promote awareness of the cancer signs, fund research, increase public awareness and support patients and their families.
Said Jacqui: “Darren was a good friend of my husband and I and he was one of our founding members. Darren was the heart and soul of everything we did at MCI, always the first to offer help to anyone that needed it.”
Jacqui said Darren ‘faced his diagnosis with such strength, bravery and determination’ and they hoped to ‘raise as much as we possibly can to help the NIPANC improve the outcomes of pancreatic cancer’.
Said Jacqui: “As part of our community spirit we thought it absolutely appropriate to do something in memory of Darren. We started fundraising at the start of the year and put a team into the Belfast Marathon.
“My husband and I then took part in ‘Pedal the Periphery’ and were part of seven teams that cycled the 480 miles around Northern Ireland between us.
“My husband and I covered the Ards and North Down coast starting from Titanic down to Bangor, along the coast to Portaferry and then back up and on to Kilkeel.”
As well as their fundraising efforts, Jacqui explained they had also compiled a fitness workout in Darren’s memory. “The work out is called the Double D and it is made up of all his favourite movements.
“We have the workout on August 7 every year. We are certainly keeping his memory alive as he was so well known and loved so much. He will never be forgotten.”
Anyone who would like to make a donation to the MCI Just Giving Page can log on to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/crossfit-mci-bangor-
