Walk for Keti turns heartbreak into awareness

A Sunshine Coast family’s heartbreak is being turned into a community walk to raise awareness of brain aneurysms after mother of four Keti Kirby suddenly collapsed at home.

Keti, wife of local DJ and music producer Mike Kirby, collapsed on Friday, June 26. Doctors at Sunshine Coast University Hospital found she had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and a significant bleed on the brain.

Because of the severity of her condition, she was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for emergency surgery and has since undergone a second operation.

Her prognosis remains uncertain and she is expected to remain in intensive care for at least three more weeks before facing a long recovery and extensive rehabilitation.

Keti is mum to four children.

Family friend Fiona Moloney said the sudden collapse had devastated the family and highlighted the silent danger of brain aneurysms, which can appear without warning signs.

“In response to this life altering event, and driven by his unwavering love for Keti and a profound desire to prevent others from experiencing similar heartache, Mike himself conceived the idea for the ‘Walk for Keti’,” Fiona said.

The walk will be held on Saturday, July 18, Keti’s birthday, starting at 8am from Moffat Beach Playground and continuing along the beach to Currimundi Lake.

Everyone is welcome, including families, children, friends and well-behaved dogs. The pace will be relaxed and inclusive, with participants encouraged to wear blue to create a visible “sea of awareness” along the beach.

The event is not primarily a fundraiser, but blue awareness wristbands will be available for a gold coin donation, with proceeds supporting the family and their awareness efforts.

The local music community has already rallied behind the family, with a recent last-minute rave organised by friends and fellow DJs raising nearly $700 in cash donations, in addition to online support.

For more information, please visit:

• Facebook Event: https://facebook.com/events/s/walk-for-keti/1552179719645386/

• GoFundMe Page: https://gofund.me/3855c10ac. Fiona Moloney can be contacted on 0409 473 382 or haevok.dj@gmail.com.

Keti Kirby is a mother of four. Her sudden collapse had devastated the family.