A DERRY woman whose mother survived breast cancer thanks to advanced treatment in America is fundraising so that people here can receive the same standard of care.
Stacey Chambers’ mum Claire Rud has now been in remission from the disease for 11 years.
But Stacey (pictured on the right) has sadly since lost four relatives to cancer and she is now raising funds for this summer’s Legenderry Relay for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Stacey, who now lives in Kelbrook in Lancashire, lost her step-father Jim Rud and aunt Bernie Houston to the disease in the last year alone.
Her aunt Ka Lynch and grandfather Hugh Tinney also lost their lives to cancer and, together with her mum Claire, have inspired Stacey to fundraise for cancer charities from a young age.
“My cousin Deborah McGlinchey who is one of the relay organisers has survived breast cancer twice,” she explained.
“When you hear that two people every hour are being diagnosed with cancer it just spurs you on.
“I also have an uncle, Liam Redden, who has just finished his treatment lung cancer at the minute.
“We are behind in the UK for treatment and research.
“Without research we wouldn’t have the treatments that led to my mammy being here today.
“But unless people fundraise that research won’t happen.”
The Unforgettables
Stacey, who did the Legenderry Relay For Life last year, is taking part again with a brand new team ‘The Unforgettables’.
“There are 16 members of the team in total and they have all lost someone to cancer or they’ve survived it themselves,” she said.
“Some of the people on the team have a brother or sister that is going through treatment at the minute.
“That led us to decide on the name ‘The Unforgettables’.”
The team have raised an impressive £2,500, which they hope to double.
Stacey, who is currently Head of Customer Service with Equitini, an outsourcing business for finance and administration services, is helping co-ordinate the fundraising campaign from her home in England.
“We have a lot of conference calls,” she laughed.
“I’d say I’m home nearly every two weeks at the minute anyway because we have so much going on.”
Stacey’s team mate Aisling Martin recently organised Fun Day at Matalan where staff dressed up and held a bake sale and children’s competition.
Peaks and troughs
“When you are standing there with your bucket people will come over and tell you their story,” she added.
“When you are doing the relay it’s a 24 hour event and you go through so many peaks and troughs which echoes the journey that people with cancer go through,” she said.
“There’s a survivors’ lap and it’s very emotional to see how many people have survived and some of them are just children.
“The highlight for me last year was the candle of hope event, where people dedicate a candle to someone they have lost to cancer.
“When you are going round the track at 2am the candles are still lit and you read the messages people have written on them and you remember why you are doing it.
“It rained last year and our tent wasn’t very good so we were all soaked but when the Zumba class started at 8am it was just what needed.
‘The Unfortgettables’ is made up of Stacey Chambers, Caroline McCaul, Colleen Forde, Gavin Travers, Laura Long, Sinead McChrystal, Tamala McNally, Martina Leonard, Aisling Martin, Deirdre Martin, Catherine Deery, Danielle McConway, Dympna Healy, Maeliosa Carey and Ann Phelan.
Last year’s event raised over £140,000 for Cancer Research, despite a target of just £60,000.
It's not too late to enter a team or take part in the opening lap as a cancer survivor.
For more information see the Relay for Life Legenderry Facebook page.
Picture: Stacey Chambers (left) with her cousin, breast cancer survivor and Relay for Life organiser Deborah McGlinchey.
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