Naomi in Canadian Rockies fundraiser for Marie Curie in memory of her Dad

Naomi in Canadian Rockies fundraiser for Marie Curie in memory of her Dad

22 June 2022

A SAINTFIELD woman has embarked on the challenge of a lifetime, bringing cherished memories of her late father with her on a gruelling trek in the Canadian Rockies to raise funds for Marie Curie.

Naomi Jordan joined an 18-strong group of trekkers to hike the beautiful Rockies on Father’s Day, to thank the charity for the dedicated and compassionate end-of-life care her father, Colin Doake, received from Marie Curie before his death.

Colin Doake, a retired minister and mission worker, died on December 16, 2019, at the age of 62. 

Three years earlier, he had been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, an asbestos cancer.

Naomi’s nine-day trip began on Saturday, when her party set out from Calgary. The next day, the trekkers hiked in the Banff area, before doing the Ha Ling Peak in Cranmore, the Stanley Glacier, Lake Louise and the Valley of Ten Peaks. 

The next stage of the trek took the group from Banff to Calgary, with the hike winding up ahead of their return this Sunday.

Led by a professional hiking guide, Naomi’s group was expecting to hike an average of 15kms per day, tackling climbs of between 500km to 800km in elevation.

Naomi (36), who works as a church administrator, explained why she took up the fundraising challenge.

“My Dad loved the outdoors, he was always walking, kayaking or cycling somewhere. The Canadian Rockies was a place that Dad always wanted to visit so when I saw that Marie Curie had a team going out, I knew it was a fitting tribute.

“I’ve never taken part in any charity trek and up until last year had only been in the mountains once. I never thought I would be spending my weekends in the Mournes like I have done for the past year in preparation for the trek. 

“I will be thinking of him every step of the way but particularly on Father’s Day. I like to think he’d be very proud of me.”

Naomi is forever grateful to Marie Curie for caring for her father in the last year of his life, claiming his nurses “went above and beyond” for him.

“Marie Curie provided my dad and my mum with invaluable support through weekly day therapy as an outpatient. They provided me with counselling when it all got too much. At the start of December when dad was admitted to the hospice, he was given the most incredible care. 

“As a family, we could not have managed without the care and support of the team at Marie Curie Belfast.”

Gavin McGucken, Marie Curie’s community fundraiser for the Belfast area, said: “We have a fantastic group of trekkers this year, many of whom are going on their second and third treks with us, unlike Naomi who was doing her first expedition.

“Our group has been keen to get out again and raise money for Marie Curie services in memory of loved ones. We thank them all as our fundraising was hugely impacted by the pandemic, with this trek postponed from last year.”

Marie Curie’s bereavement support service can be contacted free on 0800 090 2309 and to find out more how to volunteer or fundraise for Marie Curie, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved.

To support Naomi’s fundraising appeal, visithttps://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rockieschallengeinmemoryofcolindoake