THE Dry Arch Complex beard shave held for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in memory of Letterkenny man, Joseph Wilkie, has raised €10,000.
The charity fundraiser, which was coordinated by Joe Langan, a staff member at the Dry Arch Complex, Letterkenny took place on Friday, November 29.
Joe, along with his work colleagues, Barry Patton and Damien McCormack, and William McKinney (whose beard was 10 years old) all had their beards removed by Ridha’s Barbers at the Glencar Shopping Centre during a night of fun and crack in the Dry Arch Bar.
Thanking all who supported the beard shave, Joe said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of people and we really appreciate every single contribution that was made. Thanks, also, to our suppliers who back our annual fundraiser every year without fail.”
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust provides financial assistance and guidance to families seeking to repatriate the remains of loved ones back to the Island of Ireland. Since 2013, it has repatriated the remains of over 2,000 people back home to their families.
The Trust was established by Colin and Eithne Bell after their son Kevin (26) was killed in a suspected hit-and-run in New York in June 2013.
Following an outpouring of support from Kevin’s friends, family and colleagues, a significant amount of funds were raised to repatriate his remains back to Ireland.
As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation.
Help comes in the form of financial support as well as advice and guidance on getting the remains of loved ones home as soon as possible.
Speaking recently about the work of the charity, Colin Bell commented: “Part of the reason we set up the charity was to keep Kevin’s memory alive; Kevin’s name is mentioned in lots of countries across the world now. It’s a tribute to Kevin really.”
The late Joseph Wilkie, formerly of Dromore, Letterkenny, died in Florida in February 2024.
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