Funeral arrangements for little Alanna Russell

 The funeral arrangements for little Alanna Russell, aged 8, who died at home on Wednesday have been announced.

The popular little girl was known and loved all over Ireland, as her Dad,Keith, is a runner who always wheeled Alanna in a special running chair when he was competing.

Alanna is sadly missed by her heartbroken parents, Keith and Ruth, sister Fate, brothers Riordan and Harry, grandparents, Ronnie, Hilda and Carmel, uncles and aunt, Lee, Dean, Frank and Annie, relatives and many, many friends.

Her remains are reposing at home this afternoon (Thursday) from 4pm to 8pm and tomorrow afternoon from 2pm to 8pm.

Her remains will be removed on Saturday morning to St. Mary's Church, Navan for Funeral Mass at 10am. The house will be private on Saturday morning. She will be buried after mass in St. Mary's Cemetery.
The death  little Alanna has devastated the local community.

She was known far and wide as her Dad took her running, wherever he went.

Just last October he completed the gruelling 26 mile Dublin city Marathon course with Alanna in her chair. She was the youngest participant in the event and was part of Team Alanna, a group of runners who completed the marathon to raise funds for the Meadows Children's Respite Centre, which Alanna attended once or twice a month.

Little Alanna was one of twins, when she was born nine weeks premature. Sadly, her sister Isabelle died shortly before birth and Alanna was subsequently delivered by emergency caesarean section and diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Despite having severe disabilities, Alanna loved being out and about with her Dad. She couldn't talk, but shouted and laughed when she was out and everyone was around her.Her devoted Dad has been raising funds for Rehab’s The Meadows to purchase a new wheelchair-accessible bus for the children in the service.When Alanna was out with her Dad, she got a real buzz from it. It relaxed her when she was anxious, upset or couldn’t sleep.