Antrim Mum to make 'dreams come true' for terminal cancer patients in memory of her daughter

AN Antrim woman is aiming to establish a charity to support people living with cancer in her home town after her daughter passed away with the disease.

Geraldine Magill, from the Steeple, lost her 35-year-old daughter Lisa just five years after her initial diagnosis.

The family had been living in Australia at the time and were assisted by the charity Dreams2Live4.

Grateful for giving Lisa a much-needed holiday as the family struggled with her terminal illness, Geraldine wants to replicate that kindness.

Having returned home to Northern Ireland to be close to her grandchildren, Geraldine hopes to establish Dreams2Memories in Antrim.

She has already been in discussions with Mayor Neil Kelly, South Antrim MP Robin Swann and is soon to meet with trustees from Macmillan.

She is also receiving support from other councillors and from Antrim Enterprise Agency.

Geraldine marked Lisa’s eight year anniversary last week and ahead of Mother’s Day, says she wants to give something back to people living with cancer in the local community.

Lisa was just 30 when she discovered a lump in her side.

She wasn’t convinced by the initial diagnosis of a kidney infection and after pushing for more answers, a scan was taken and a 17cm tumour was eventually removed from her stomach.

Medics in Australia couldn’t identify the mass, and sent it to the USA, where it was discovered to be a sarcoma.

After chemo, Lisa was told that if the tumour returned, there was no good long-term outlook.

Within eight months, the cancer was back, and Lisa started her own blog, Terminally Fabulous, posting to her 60,000 followers, sending and receiving messaged until days before her passing, when her Mum took over.

“I’ll never forget how kind the people of Antrim were,” said Geraldine.

“Lisa fought so hard those last few years.

“People were sending so many messages of support and when Lisa passed away, they send cards and messages and released balloons in her memory.

“I grew up in the town and I would never want to base a charity anywhere else because the community is so supportive.”

The charity will focus on providing families with the opportunity to fulfil lifelong dreams or enjoy meaningful experiences, ensuring that all necessary medical arrangements, travel accommodations, and proximity to hospitals are carefully coordinated – a service that had a profound impact on Geraldine and Lisa during their final time together.

Geraldine’s is a remarkable story of strength and resilience, as well as the charity’s mission to provide comfort and support to others facing similar circumstances.

She said: “I have decided that the UK and Ireland badly need a charity like Dreams2live4.

“This Australian charity makes dreams come true for patients with metastatic cancer, reoccurring lym lymphoma, relapsed leukaemia and high grade brain tumours.

“Lisa’s dream was to visit Broome in Western Australia. Cancer wasn’t talked about during our five day trip, we were a normal family, having a normal holiday but without the stress of planning, booking and looking after all the small details that were so important.

“So now it’s our turn to give back. With the support of our family, friends and Louise the D2L4 CEO, I have taken the initial steps needed to start up our own ‘Dreams2Memories’ charity.

“I am working with local community representatives and support groups to help me with the mammoth task of setting up this amazing charity.

“Currently we are looking for an amazing ambassador to support our charity.

“One person I had in mind was Barry McGuigan. Sadly Barry and his family lost a daughter to cancer at just 34 years of age.

“I think the McGuigan family would understand the impact a charity like this would have to a family going through the heartbreak that comes with cancer.

“An ambassador can raise awareness and can influence others to help you reach your goals and they might attend a major fundraising event.

“What’s important to me is that they are as passionate about the cause as I am and they genuinely care about helping others.

“All fundraising ideas will be gratefully accepted. We are also looking for business people that are willing to offer services, or gifts we can auction. We will be needing local hotels and photographers to come on board - sometimes a person with terminal cancer just wants a photo shoot or a spa day.

“I would also be seeking a voluntary admin person.

“This will all be voluntary, no one will be taking a salary or making a profit, every penny will be going back into the charity and helping make dreams come true for people living with terminal cancer.”

If you can help Geraldine, email dreams2memories35@outlook.com