A mum has launched a fundraiser to help a children's cancer charity that was a "lifeline" to her family during her daughter's treatment.
Suzie McKeown was introduced to cancer support charity Angel Wishes shortly after her daughter Cora was diagnosed with the disease when she was three-years-old and says that she does not know how her family would have managed if it wasn't for the support they received from it.
The charity was officially launched in 2016 by Gaye Kerr in memory of her two children Helen and Brian who died due to cancer related conditions when they were three and 10.
Read more: Co Down woman granting wishes to sick children after tragic loss of her own twins
Its aim is to provide help to any child with cancer or a cancer related condition and their parents, and can offer aid such as emotional and financial support, days out and retreats and help with education.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Suzie said: "During Cora's two and a half years of cancer treatment Gaye and Angel Wishes became a lifeline for our family and I don't think we would have been able to manage if it wasn't for her support.
"She was always a phone call away if there was anything that I ever needed to talk about or if I ever had any worries or needed a shoulder to cry on and she went above and beyond to help us.
"When your your child is going through treatment it is such a lonely and isolating time for them and the rest of your family because of the restrictions that are placed on your everyday lives. They can't go to shops, see their friends or go out and play with other children because of how vulnerable they are and this impacts their siblings too who can also have a very tough time throughout it all.
"It is difficult for others to understand exactly what you are going through unless they have lived it themselves and with Gaye having had her own tragic experiences losing two of her children, she is able to relate to our journey and the challenges we face."
Angel Wishes purchased a new property for the charity in Ballintoy, Co Antrim, in December last year which will soon open as Heir Lan Ben House, a holiday retreat for the families of children going through cancer treatment so that they can return to normality and have a relaxing time away from it all.
However, before it is able to open some adaptations need to be made in order to make sure the house is safe and suitable for families, and Suzie has launched a fundraiser in order to help secure whatever facilities will be needed.
She said: "After everything that Gaye has done for us I felt that it was important that we try and help them with whatever costs they may have while trying to get the holiday home ready for opening.
"There are adaptations that need to be made for wheelchairs, plans to convert the garage and barn into a games room and den, and the creation of outdoor climbing frames and play areas, and we are hoping to contribute as much as we can to get them sorted.
"I know how important something like this will be to children and families across Northern Ireland and it will be somewhere for people to go and get away from all the pressures of cancer treatment and get a bit of normality again."
Gaye Kerr said that she originally started Angel Wishes in the hopes of creating a small support group for families going through cancer treatment, however due to the level of support that was needed it quickly grew and became a registered charity one year later.
She said that she hopes Heir Lan Ben House will allow them to provide even more help to families going through difficult times and it should officially open next month on what would have been Helen and Brian's 21st birthday.
Gaye said: "I started Angel Wishes as a way of trying to provide a bit of support to others who are on the same horrendous journey that I had been on in the hopes of giving them a bit of help at such a tough time.
"I know that it is something that is traumatic for everyone involved and takes over the lives of families for years.
"Having somewhere that you are able to get away to and separate yourselves from the treatment is so important and allows families the opportunity to relax or even pretend that everything is normal again, and I hope that our new house will be able to do that for people across Northern Ireland.
"While there is still a bit of work yet to do to get it ready for families, it is due to officially open on February 24, which is the 21st birthday of my children Helen and Brian.
"I would just like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past few years and look forward to welcoming families in the coming weeks."
If you would like to donate to the fundraising appeal please follow this link.
For more information about Angel Wishes and the work that it does, please follow this link.
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