Susan is walking to help others

Susan is walking to help others

7 August 2013

A KILLYLEAGH woman has become a fundraiser for local charities that have helped her family and friends to battle cancer.

On Friday, August 30, Susan McComb will be putting on her walking shoes to take part in the Walk Ten Belfast, at Stormont Estate, to raise money for the Marie Curie nursing service.

Susan will be taking part in the walk in memory of her mother, Sandra McClurg, who passed away from bowel cancer on November 26 last year.

“When my mother was ill we had three nights respite care from Marie Curie in the week before she passed away,” said Susan.

“When we were clearing my mother’s house we gave her clothes to the Marie Curie shop on Market Street in Downpatrick. I was thinking of different ways to help Marie Curie and then the chance for the walk came up. They send me monthly newsletters and this was in it.

“I will be doing the walk with my two daughters Amy (15), Erin (12), along with my friend Elizabeth Martin and her daughter Lucy (12)..

“It’s a 10 kilometre walk in the Stormont Estate, which is just over six miles,” she said.

This will not be Susan’s first time fundraising for a cancer charity, or even her first time walking the Stormont Estate for charity.

Susan continued: “I have done the Ballygowan Moonlight Walk for Action Cancer with my mother’s friend Connie Kelly two years ago, in memory of Margaret McGrady.

“Connie and I worked together in Jark Health Care in Downpatrick, but I don’t work there anymore. Margaret was our boss, but she passed away from breast cancer in November 2010.

“Last year I did the Stormont walk for Cancer Research in memory of my best friend Mary McKibben who passed away in September 2011 with bowel cancer.

“So I have done two walks and last year on May 4 we had the Mary McKibben Darts Memorial Cup in the International Bar in Killyleagh and we raised over £2,000.

“We gave £1,000 to the Killyleagh Patient’s Fund, which buys nebulisers and syringe drivers which are loaned out, and we gave the rest to Macmillan Cancer Care.

“We will also be running the Mary McKibben Memorial Cup again this year and that could be for Marie Curie as well.

“I am hoping to raise more in sponsorship before the event, people could just give £1 or £2 and I would be eternally grateful,” she said.

If you would like to make a donation you can contact Susan on 028 4482 8937, or email: msusmccomb@googlemail.com