Family and friends of a popular Co Fermanagh teacher are ensuring her legacy lives on by fundraising to support local causes close to her heart.
Amanda McManus from Lisnaskea passed away suddenly on 12th May 2021, aged just 36.
The devoted mother-of-two taught ICT at Ballyclare High School before taking up a post at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School (ERGS) and was a great friend to staff at both schools.
Read more: NI teacher who died suddenly inspires epic challenge
She was also involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, volunteering to better the lives of all the young people she was involved with.
Eldest daughter to Kenneth and Linda Hall and sister to Wendy and Susan, Amanda was married to Frainc and the couple had two young daughters, Katie and Charlotte.
To date almost £13,000 has been raised in her memory following a massive fundraising effort undertaken by the late teacher’s colleagues at ERGS.
Amanda’s memory was honoured last year to mark the first anniversary of her death as her family, friends and colleagues took part in a mammoth four peaks challenge around Co Fermanagh.
Last weekend, her family, friends and colleagues undertook a walk of the same four peaks to support Air Ambulance NI.
Amanda’s have thanked all those who gave generously to last year’s challenge, when £12,946 was raised in her memory, with the funds donated to causes close to her heart and chosen by her family.
The sum was presented to Amanda’s family by staff members from ERGS, including principal Elizabeth Armstrong.
A cheque for £10,000 was presented to Aghavea Parish Church in Brookeborough, where Amanda was a parishioner. It was the job of Amanda’s two daughters, Katie and Charlotte, to present the cheque to Rev. Johnny McLoughlin from Agahvea Parish Church and Dr Ian Ellis, Bishop of Clogher.
The remainder of the funds were donated to the Oak Healthy Living Centre in Lisnaskea and for their presentation to Patricia Flanagan, Health Promotion Coordinator at the Oak, the girls proudly wore their ‘Amanda’s 4 Peaks Challenge’ t-shirts.
Amanda's sister, Susan, told MyFermanagh: "We wanted to support charities that Amanda would have approved of in a bid to help other families and we think she would be thrilled.
"We are deeply humbled by people’s generosity and time, in particular the support from everyone at ERGS.
"We're hoping to make the walks in memory of Amanda an annual event and maybe also visit some of the places that she did with the kids taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme."
Susan added: "The money donated to the church has paid for a new organ so every Sunday it's now playing some of her favourite hymns. Whenever Amanda was stressed she would hum some hymns so it seems very fitting.
"Oak Healthy Living offers a range of different supports to people so she would certainly have approved of that too."
Reflecting on the loss of Amanda two years on, Susan said: "It's very hard to believe that this Friday marks two years since her passing. There's not a day goes by that we don't talk about her or think of her.
"Her two little girls keep us all going so Amanda's always there with us and I don't think that will ever change."
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