The woman who directly inspired the founding of a Waterford charity has passed away.
The Shona Project was set up by Tammy D'Arcy to help girls from the age of 11 who experience bullying, low self-esteem, body issues, anxiety, and depression.
At 15, Tammy's sister, Shona, started struggling to do everyday tasks and was eventually diagnosed with AVM - a type of acquired brain injury.
Tammy established the organisation in her sister's name in 2016.
In a post on the Shona Project's website this lunchtime, Tammy says Shona passed away in the early hours of this morning, peacefully, and surrounded by her family in St Vincent's Hospital Dublin.
She says Shona's name means so much to so many and, with her passing, the story behind the organisation will be forever changed.
"In her name, the Shona Project has supported tens of thousands of girls in every corner of Ireland. Each of those girls knows who she is, and understands how important her legacy is. Her story has inspired so many young women to take better care of themselves and each other, to use their voices to create change and impact and to understand and appreciate how important they are to the world. While many of our community never met Shona in person, I know that they had an affinity with her and the sisterhood she represents.
They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time. If this is true, Shona will live on for a long, long time.
Shona was ill, incapacitated and debilitated, but she was never weak," the post reads.
Tammy shared some of her memories with Shona in the post, stating that she had "never known anyone to fight so long and so hard, with such defiance and stubbornness."
Tammy ended the post by saying the family will take some time to say goodbye to Shona but then they will be "back to work, continuing to build that legacy."
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