Kilclief family joining Walk Together in aid of cancer charity

Kilclief family joining Walk Together in aid of cancer charity

29 August 2018

A KILCLIEF family who lost two relatives to bowel cancer is helping raise much-needed funds for Bowel Cancer UK.

The Hanna family will join the charity’s Walk Together event in Belfast on Saturday, September 29.

The six-mile sponsored walk around the picturesque Belvoir Park Forest aims to show support for those undergoing treatment and remembering loved ones, as well as raising funds to help stop people dying of bowel cancer. 

The Hannas will be walking in memory of family members who have died from the disease and for those who have since been diagnosed.

Jennifer Mason will be joining the walk in memory of her dad, Tommy Hanna, who died of bowel cancer in 2011. Her sister-in-law Anne also lost her mother Margaret to bowel cancer in 1997.

The family are determined to make more people aware of the disease and raise much needed funds for the cause. 

The group of 15 have already exceeded their fundraising target of £1,000.

Jennifer said: “We’d really like to make a difference and anything we can do to raise funds for the life-saving work of Bowel Cancer UK has to be a good thing, as well as remembering our loved ones while we’re walking. 

“We as a family are so proud to be joining Walk Together for the charity and highlighting this worthy cause. We aim to raise as much as we possibly can.”

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Northern Ireland and the second biggest cancer killer. Every year more than 1,100 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and over 400 people die from the disease. However it’s treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early.

Niamh McDaid, Senior Health Promotion and Training Officer in Northern Ireland for Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We are thrilled to have the Hanna family taking part in Walk Together and raising funds for the charity.

“For us, at Bowel Cancer UK, this means we can continue with our vital work of saving lives and improving the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. Walk Together is for all ages and abilities and you can walk with friends, family and colleagues, or invite your community to join you.”

Donations can be made to: justgiving.com/fundraising/HannaFamilyKilclief or by texting TAHA99 and the donation amount to 70070.

To sign up to Walk Together or receive a fundraising pack to hold your own walk, visit: bowelcanceruk.org.uk/walktogether.