An Armagh woman who began volunteering for a cancer charity after the death of her friend’s teenage son, is retiring after 25 years.
Doris Hamilton joined Cancer Fund for Children’s Armagh Support Group along with friend Celia and her daughter Karen, after Celia’s son Graeme died aged just 15.
Since then, the three have worked tirelessly to ensure other families impacted by cancer receive the support they need, helping the Armagh Support Group to raise over £300,000.
Said Doris: “It’s been wonderful to work with so many amazing people in my community to raise money in support of children and families. I’m very proud of what the support group has achieved and want to thank everyone in the Armagh area and beyond who got behind our initiatives and supported our fundraising efforts.
“I will miss the group but it’s being left in the very capable hands of Karen and our team of volunteers and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”
Aisling Gibson, South Down regional fundraiser for Cancer Fund for Children, said the charity had been “consistently overwhelmed by the dedication and passion Doris displayed over the last 25 years of fundraising and volunteering”.
She added: “She is a wonderful, generous and thoughtful person who has given up so much of her time over the years to support her local community and family friend and help us ensure no child has to face cancer alone.
“Her retirement is very well-deserved and though we will miss her, we wish her all the best in the future.”
Every week in Northern Ireland, another three children and young people aged 0-24 years old will be diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer Fund for Children supports more than 1,500 children and young people and 500 families impacted by cancer every year through emotional and therapeutic support at home and in the hospital, and with short breaks at their centre Daisy Lodge, in Newcastle, Co Down.
