Northern Ireland's only dedicated sarcoma cancer charity has marked its 10th anniversary supporting patients and their families.
The Boom Foundation was started by Leona Rankin in April 2013 following the death of her fiance Philip who passed away just six weeks before their wedding day.
Since then the charity has been working to support hundreds of sarcoma patients across Northern Ireland with any of the challenges they may experience during their treatment and offering advice and guidance along the way.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Leona said that she became aware of the pressures the health service is under during Philip's treatment and how isolating it can be for cancer patients and their families, with the Boom Foundation aiming to be an organisation that can be there to support them with any difficulties that may arise.
She said: "While Philip was going through his treatment I saw the pressures that the health service were under then and how isolating it can be for patients as they try to keep on top of everything during such a difficult time.
"He had been dealing with sarcoma cancers for around six years before we met, but sadly after periods of being clear the cancer would keep returning to his body and spreading.
He had been through so many different surgeries and treatments, having a bone in his leg and half his pelvis removed, but he had almost become used to overcoming the illness and even in his final weeks when we knew there was no hope left, he was determined to overcome it for our wedding day.
"In the weeks after his death on March 8, 2013, I felt that I had to do something to try and help others who have been diagnosed and after organising a charity golf day for Sarcoma UK in his memory, I set about creating The Boom Foundation in order to ensure that patients here in Northern Ireland have access to support."
The Boom Foundation is run by Leona, 5 other Trustees and a small group of volunteers who dedicate their time to supporting patients and their families, whether that is through offering advice and guidance or providing help with expenses during treatment.
All of the donations that the charity receives are equally divided between providing funding to Sarcoma UK for research and support for patients in Northern Ireland.
Leona continued: "We work closely with the Belfast and South Eastern Trusts in order to provide support for patients and help to reduce some of the pressures that our health service face by being a place patients can come to if they have any worries about their treatment, regardless of their means or circumstances.
"Going through cancer treatment can be such an isolating time for patients and we aim to be there for them to help with whatever we can and are able to help with accommodation for family members and travel costs, along with support with weekends away for respite, securing the right travel insurance or helping with tutoring for younger patients going through important exams such as A-Levels.
"We are entirely funded through donations from local businesses and the public and as everyone works on a voluntary basis, we have no overheads and are able to make sure that all of the funding we receive goes straight to patients."
Looking ahead to the future of The Boom Foundation, Leona says that she is hoping to see the charity expand so that it is able to offer even more to sarcoma patients.
Leona said: "When I first started The Boom Foundation I think some thought that I was doing it as part of my grieving process and that it could be something that faded out over time.
"Now 10 years later I am as committed as I ever have been to supporting sarcoma patients and am grateful for all of the support we have received and the relationships that we have developed.
"I am hoping that over the next five years we are able to expand as a charity and provide even more support to patients and their families as there are around 100 people every year diagnosed with a sarcoma cancer in Northern Ireland."
On April 29, the charity will be hosting its Gala Ball fundraising event at the Titanic (Exhibition Centre) in order to raise much needed funds for patients.
If you would like more information about the event, please visit The Boom Foundation website, Instagram or Facebook page.
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