Brendan McKeever, from Oakfield, is well-known to many people in the city thanks to his tireless work with Creggan's Family Information Group which shut its doors recently due to lack of funding.

However, Brendan's latest project, 'For You - Donovan ', published by Guildhall Press, is possibly the most difficult and heartfelt project he has ever had to face up to.

Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at an early age, Donovan was just 20-years-old when he passed away on December 1, 2006. He was well-known and much loved by all who knew him and for his devoted family, his father, his mum Teresa, siblings Ruth and Jack, life would never be the same.

Brendan believes that 'For You - Donovan ' tells the tale of a life lived to the full. It details the life he lived, the people he met and the lives he touched along the way. However, it is also a book about Donovan himself, his sparkling personality and unwavering sense of humour in the face of great adversity.

Speaking to the 'Journal' this week, Brendan revealed: "The primary reason why I wrote the book is because I wanted to record everything while I remembered it all. I'm sure as I get older I'll begin to forget things, so this was a way of ensuring I would, at least, remember all the little things about Donovan. Our family brought it out as a way to preserve and celebrate all these memories and so it's obviously very close to all our hearts.

"I thought I'd forgotten lots from around the time he died but, when I began writing, it all came flooding back to me. It was obviously very, very difficult at times but, as the months passed, the process of writing and remembering got easier. In saying that, it was never easy - there was too much emotion involved."

Brendan added: "Those closest to Donovan and his family have found the book sad and very emotional, while those who didn't know him so well see both the sad and the funny parts of the book. Something of how he lived his life is captured in the book, and that's all we wanted. It's a great feeling to have finished it. The family are all very proud and when you read it you realise why he is missed so much. At times I'm amazed we finished it because none of us are very public people."

All proceeds of the book go directly to Horizon House, Northern Ireland's only Children's Hospice, where Donovan found much comfort. Brendan says that Donovan was always coming up with ideas to help fundraise and he always regarded the hospice as a very positive place. On what would have been Donovan's 21st birthday last year, the McKeever family had a balloon launch at a match at the Brandywell to help raise money for the hospice. This year they decided that a book would be a fitting tribute to the son they adored.

Very proud

But what would Donovan himself think of all this fuss? "Donovan would be delighted that we were doing something so good for the Children's Hospice," his daddy revealed, "I think he would be very proud of the book.