Jackie's tribute to brother she thought would always be there
by MARY MAGEE
Jackie Adamson hands over a cheque to Joanne Young, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Trust NI.
Winston Wright
A local woman who lost her 60-year-old brother last year through cancer has raised £1,650 for MacMillan Cancer Trust NI. Jackie Adamson, who runs Lighterlife, was already working towards a charity fundraising event last November when the family was given the devastating news that her beloved brother Winston Wright had lung cancer.
Jackie decided to go ahead the event but decided it should be for the Macmillan Cancer Trust. It was just a week after the event Winston passed away - on December 4 2010.
The event was part of a competition where LighterLife's Central Office issued a challenge to the 350 counsellors to design a fundraising event for charity and the three that were selected would, with the support of LighterLife, organise their event for a charity of their choice.
Jackie entered the competition, having designed an Evening of Success, Empowerment and Inspiration, at the Slieve Donard Hotel and she was chosen as one of the winners.
The evening proved to be a motivational night, with guest speakers Lynda Bryans, inspirational speaker Mandy Cassidy and music by Jukebox Jury which raised £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Jackie said: "I was initially going to do the event for another charity, but whilst in the throes of organising it my brother was diagnosed with lung cancer and that changed everything.
"We were all devastated and the only thing I could do to feel of any use was to give the proceeds of my event to Macmillan.
"We didn't realise just how ill he was, otherwise we would not have been able to enjoy the event," said Jackie.
"His wife Linda came along. She was only persuaded to go by, their children John and Susan who said they would look after Winston while she was away.
"We had thought of bringing Linda and Winston to Slieve Donard and they could stay over but Winston wasn't up to it.
"He was always so supportive of everything I did. When I started planning the event he was always asking about it and asking who was going.
"He was a fit and healthy man and was never sick, never went to the doctor's although he did smoke.
"Winston was a big part of my life and I could never imagine life without him. I always imagined that he would be there. He was unwell for his 60th birthday on July and did a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the City Hospital.
Joanne Young, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan said "It is amazing how, in the face of adversity, people can still think of others. Jackie's event was so apt, the motivation not only to carry on organising it through such a difficult time, but to pass on that motivation to others takes a special kind of person."
Jackie has since taken part in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning,
and enhanced her fundraising to
£1,650.
"It is such a simple way of raising funds for such a worthwhile charity and I urge everyone to sign up or at least attend one of the coffee mornings taking place in their area this week," she said. To find out more about Macmillan Cancer Support visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 02890 70861
Ulster Star
3/09/2011
