AS the sixth anniversary of September 11 approaches, family members of victims of the tragedy will honor their loved ones in various ways. For the family of Damian Meehan, they will remember a son, brother, husband and father by holding their sixth annual cross-country run this weekend to raise money to subsidize four educational scholarships in Damian’s memory.

The family of Damian, who died tragically on September 11 when the World Trade Center collapsed around him, knew they had to do something to keep his spirit alive. Six years ago Damian’s father Michael, a native of Co. Donegal, decided to hold a 5K cross-country run/walk in memory of his beloved son. Damian loved to run.

Damian’s younger sister Janine Lynch spoke to the Irish Voice on Tuesday about the Damian P. Meehan Memorial Fund that her family set up in 2002. Each year scholarships are bestowed in Damian’s honor to one student at Good Shepherd Grammar School in Manhattan, St. Ray-mond’s High School for Boys in the Bronx, Glen Rock High School in Glen Rock, New Jersey, and Monroe-Woodbury High School in Monroe, New York. To fund these scholarships, the Meehans hold a cross-country race each September in Monroe, New York where Damien’s body is buried.

Janine explains the idea for the race came from her dad, who passed away from cancer two years ago. “He had the forethought at the time this (9/11) happened to keep my brother Damian’s spirit alive. He wanted his children to see how loved their father was and he needed to be able to do something good for the community. That was the type of guy my dad was,” said Janine proudly.

“It’s a cross country challenging run and walk, and the day itself is very family orientated. We had beautiful weather for the past five years and we hope that it will continue,” said Janine who has been involved with the event since day one.

“Naturally it’s a challenge getting people to the race. Six years on there are lots of tragedies and lots of memorial events that people attend, but each year we are trying to reach out and attract new runners. At the beginning, the core years, it was mostly friends and family of Damian’s, but each year we are trying to add new runners who might not have known Damian but want to participate in this wonderful cause and great family day.”

Janine said that she, along with her family and Damian’s wife Joann, will continue to follow in the footsteps of Michael and keep the foundation he set up after Damian’s death alive. “We try and raise $100,000 every year and about $25,000 is given towards educational scholarships,” she said.

Damian grew up in a traditional large Irish American family, with eight siblings. The youngest of six brothers, he had an easygoing personality and a perpetual smile.

While studying in Lehman College in the Bronx, he was introduced to Janine’s friend Joann McCarthy, whose parents are from Kerry. The couple soon fell in love and married years later. In 1993, Damian got a job at Dean Witter on Wall Street, which later became Carr Futures.

One of the happiest days of Damian and Joann’s lives was the day their son Damian Junior was born (January 13, 2000). They had an unbreakable bond.

Damian, who was often seen kicking a ball around Gaelic Park, also enjoyed running. Life was perfect for the family man.

Then the attacks on the World Trade Center took Damian from this earth on September 11, 2001. On October 1 Damian’s body was recovered with several firemen and civilians on West Street. On January 13, 2002 Damian’s daughter Madison Margaret was born.

Joann and their two children are just back from their first trip to Ireland. “They went to Donegal and Kerry. They had a lovely trip and got to see both sides of the family,” she Janine.

Janine said since loosing Damian and now her father life has been tough. “The sadness is now compounded by loosing my dad but thank god we have a big strong family and friends and that helps. It’s a hard time of year but it does bring the family closer and you learn to lean on each other.”

The street where Damian grew up in Inwood between Broadway and Seaman Avenue on 207th Street was named after Damian on what would have been his 34th birthday, May 29, 2003. The street is now named Damian Meehan Way.

To participate in the sixth annual Damian Meehan Memorial 5K Cross Country Run/Walk, which will be held on Saturday, September 8, at 10 a.m. in Monroe, New York, register online at www.damianmeehan.org or on the day.

There will also be peewee races for children, face painting, food and beverages and live Irish music with Maura Fogarty.