Ryan Tubridy has paid tribute to a former guest on his RTE Radio One show, who tragically passed away following a brave battle with cancer on Wednesday.
Dublin woman Heather Skinner met the RTE star when they were both taking part in Charlie Bird's charity climb to raise money and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease on April 2 this year. Heather was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021 at the age of 36, and the Malahide resident appeared on Tubridy's RTE Radio One show back in June to discuss her cancer and to raise awareness.
In his tribute, a visibly moved Tubridy described Heather as being a "very very bright personable soul" who he met last Spring during the climb at Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo. Tubridy said: "She stopped me and she said, 'I need to talk to you, I need you to get on your show because I need to get the word out there about this illness and make people feel less alone and more informed'. She came and she was a very bright moment in our lives."
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"'I was taken aback when someone got in touch with me to say Heather had passed away yesterday. Too young and all wrong, I just want to pass my condolences on to Heather's family and friends," Ryan added.
The RTE star said that a lot of Heather's friends had gotten in touch with him to say they were gathering to remember her. "May she rest in peace," he said.
When Heather appeared on the RTE show in June, she reflected on her cancer journey which she had approached with a positive attitude. She said at the time: "This is what we don't see. You want a bad cancer story, there's millions.
"You can live with it. I'm sitting here, I don't feel pain or sick. I actually feel myself... I'm on human therapy and human therapy works... I want to educate and be an advocate," she said.
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