A County Armagh teenager will shortly complete a walking challenge for a breast cancer charity which has supported her mum after the was diagnosed in the summer.
Gillian Regan, who is originally from Killylea and now living in Clonoe, received the news in August which left the family – including daughter, Holly – reeling.
“I discovered a lump and the GP red-flagged me,” she told Armagh I. “I then had my biopsy and got diagnosed. I’ve had my surgery and I’m due to start chemotherapy now the week after next.”
For Gillian – who only got married to husband Brian in July – the news left her stunned and struggling to take it in.
“It’s just devastating and shocking,” she added. “You’ve no real sense of reality at all.”
Daughter Holly, meanwhile, decided that she wanted to do something to help a charity which has been providing support to them at this worrying time.
The teenager has undertaken an annual fundraiser by Breast Cancer Now, where she has pledged to walk 100 miles in October, to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“She’s out walking every day,” said Gillian. “She’s up to 79 miles now. We want to do just the last few miles around the Mall in Armagh on Saturday, October 31.”
The family are hoping to be there to support Holly as she prepares to complete her challenge, as she aims to start the last of her walk at around 11am.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Holly,” added Gillian. “She has been fitting this in around school and work. She’s doing her A Levels and she works part time in Digby’s and works part-time in a care home.
“So it was taken quite a lot of strength, while mentally going through the diagnosis.
“She has raised £3,000 so far. The support people have given is just unbelievable.”
Holly is being sponsored in her endeavours by Premier Property in Armagh and the family would like to say a personal ‘thank-you’ to them and to everyone who has donated and helped in any way so far.
For they know that the money raised will be put to good use by Breast Cancer Now, a charity which provides a vital lifeline to women and their families when they need it most.
Said Gillian: “They do a lot of research and they offer support, where you can just lift the phone and ring if you’ve any queries or you need to ask things. They provide all the leaflets you would get when you’re diagnosed too. They’ve been a big help.”
While Holly is actively raising money for the charity, Gillian – as she prepares to begin chemotherapy – is keen too to raise awareness of breast cancer and is encouraging women to take no chances.
“Please, please everyone, just check,” she urged, “because it’s just so important and, if anyone is in any doubt at all, go and get it checked out with your GP. It’s so important.”
