A Chester County father’s world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010. Now, the father, Kenneth McHugh, is preparing to leave his family, but making sure he leaves them secure.
Ken, who has not been able to work for five years, set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for his children’s education.
“As I prepare to leave this world, I, most importantly, want to leave my children with good memories of a father who loved them dearly,” Ken wrote on the page. “I also wish for a way to reduce the burden on my wife as she faces a new reality and I hope to be able to let them know they can pursue an education and future without the fear of not having enough money.”
Ken’s final wish, though, was to have video recordings of him walking each of his children down the aisle, something he is aware he won’t have the chance to do.
“I was trying to decide how I would leave a message for my kids,” Ken said. “I didn’t want to type something. I wanted them to see me and live that with me.”
Dr. Christine Meyer, founder and leader of Team CMMD, a non-profit charity team of runners and non-runners, heard about Ken’s story when his wife, Tammy, joined Team CMMD.
Christine says Tammy told the team Ken’s story and his final wish, which led to Christine gathering her team and organizing a way to make his final wish come true.
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“We rallied our troops and just said ‘can we make this happen?’, and we could, we did,” Christine said.
Team CMMD organized a ceremony for Ken and his family with donations and volunteers from all over the county. Donations included tuxedos for Ken and his son, hair and make-up artists for Tammy and their daughters, a limo, a chef, photographers and more. All volunteers donated their time and services to pull off the ceremony for Ken and his family.
The McHugh family requested that the ceremony be private. So on Saturday, the family, two videographers, a photographer, and a volunteer ordained minister gathered in the chapel. Ken walked each of his children down the aisle, gave them each notes he had written and voiced over, and then renewed his vows with his wife.
“I was overwhelmed and touched more than anything,” Ken said. “You could really feel how genuine it was.”
Now, after the ceremony, Christine says she and her foundation will continue to support the family in any way that they can.
To support the McHugh family, visit www.gofundme.com/kenmchugh.
