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07th Jul 2020

‘With Hope in Your Heart’ – Martina Cox is releasing a book about her family’s experiences

James Fenton

Martina Cox is releasing a book based on the experiences of her family since her husband Seán was attacked in Liverpool in April 2018.

Seán Cox was left unable to walk or talk after being attacked outside Anfield, the home ground of Liverpool FC, ahead of a Champions League game against AS Roma and his story and that of his family will be told in With Hope in your Heart.

The book, written by Martina Cox with Susan Keogh, will document the Cox family’s harrowing journey from hearing the news of his attack to the moment he returned home to Dunboyne, Co. Meath for the first time in two years just as the coronavirus lockdown took hold.

In between, readers will learn about the ‘tremendous support of community at home and from the extended Liverpool FC supporters helped the Cox family along the way,’ which has included a number of fundraisers such as a charity game at the Aviva Stadium last year between Ireland and Liverpool legends teams.

With Hope in Your Heart takes its title from a lyric from Liverpool club anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone and was announced by Gill Books earlier today. Speaking about the book, Martina said: ‘The last two years have been unimaginably difficult but our love for Seán and determination that he gets the best care possible has kept us going. It has been an uphill battle but he is making progress every day. The book emphasises how, with the help of family, community, Liverpool and tens of thousands of people across the world who were touched by Seán’s story, we have achieved what was thought to be impossible and we are so grateful for that.’

The foreward for With Hope In your Heart will be written by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who says: ‘I often get asked about leadership in football but in “real life” I can think of no greater example of what a leader is than Seán’s wife, Martina. I have followed what she has done for her husband and her family and it has humbled me.’

Gill’s press release today says: ‘Seán and Martina Cox have three children and live in Dunboyne, Co Meath. While Seán requires full-time medical care, is not likely to walk again and finds speech and many other daily tasks very challenging, his family are determined to give Seán the best treatments possible to ensure he can live as normal a life as possible. Susan Keogh is a journalist who has been working in Irish media for the last 16 years. She currently presents ‘Newstalk Breakfast’ on Saturday and Sunday mornings.’

With Hope in Your Heart will be published on Friday, October 23 and will be priced at €16.99. You can read more about its release here.

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