Ronan Keating insists ‘your health is your wealth’ as he reflects on effect mum’s death had on him and urges men to ‘check’ themselves
metro.co.ukcancer.In the days after her death, the singer – then shooting to fame as a member of Boyzone – and his siblings decided to create a charity in her name so fewer families would have to go through what they went through.‘Kicking around the house following mum passing there was a lot of emotions, anger, frustration, upset and hurt,’ Ronan, 45, tells Metro.co.uk, as we partner with breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!
for Saturday’s Festifeel event. ‘It was my sister Linda who said “we’ve go to do something”.‘It was using all of the energy the family had and the negativity and bitterness and anger and try to turn it into something positive.
It’s what we did, using my profile at the time, I hadn’t spearheaded any charity campaigns at that point. I was still so young.’The Marie Keating Foundation was founded to raise awareness of cancer and champion the importance of early detection.When speaking about the legacy he hopes the foundation will have, and what his mum’s story may encourage, Ronan insists women have become braver in speaking about signs and symptoms, and more in tune with their health in general.It’s an area he wishes men were more in touch with.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video‘My mum came from a generation that was nervous to go to a doctor,’ he says. ‘But also, she didn’t want to take her bra off in the surgery to get her breasts checked.
Like men still are today, they won’t go and get their testicles checked, it’s ridiculous, we’re childish and stupid.’He goes on: ‘Women have become brave and powerful and give themselves the strength to do that.‘Education is king, I hope we’ve been there alongside, whether it’s the Irish Cancer Society or.
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