"WHEN Alison walked into a room she didn’t just light it up, she set it ablaze with her energy, her zest for life, her positivity and also of course her laughter and her mischievous sense of humour. No-one could have failed to have noticed that glint in her eye – that sense of fun. Happiness and love just radiated from her."
These were the opening words of the sermon delivered at the funeral of Tandragee mum-of-two Alison Williamson, who lost her battle to a rare blood cancer in May, aged just 31.
Climbing the highest mountains in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales in just 48 hours is the challenge her husband Barry, along with his brothers and six friends are undertaking next month to support Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI, a charity close to Alison’s heart which funds research into the causes and cures of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma in Northern Ireland.
Barry knows that climbing during the night and sleeping as they travel to climb Ben Nevis, Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Slieve Donard on October 14 and 15 October will be a "massive challenge" physically and emotionally.
Before embarking upon training Barry hadn't done any mountain climbing since his school days, although has fond memories of holidaying with Alison and their two children Mya (11) and Rhys (seven) in Kilbroney at the foot of the Mournes.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It occurs when lymphocytes (the white blood cells that help protect the body from infection and disease) begin behaving abnormally.
It comes in many different forms and can affect people of any age and background. The most common symptom is one or more painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. However, some people with lymphoma also have more general symptoms like night sweats, fever, and significant unexplained weight loss.
"At the end of 2014 Alison wasn’t feeling so well and in the following months she lost a lot of weight and her energy levels decreased rapidly. In August 2015 she had her spleen removed and received the diagnosis of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma – a very rare and aggressive type of blood cancer," explains Barry.
Fifty days of chemotherapy followed, as well as a stem-cell transplant.
"She spent a long time in three different hospitals and faced having to take 53 tablets and four litres of water a day. It was for her a horrendous and arduous journey of sickness, pain and suffering but Alison was prepared to undergo any sort of treatment available that would give her the opportunity of having more time with her family," Barry says
"Even on her darkest days, Alison could still manage to smile and give you a thumbs up. She never gave up the fight; she was determined to the end. It was just her weakened body ravaged by disease that couldn’t take any more."
His family have already raise £18,000 for the charity and they will be holding A Night at the Races at Armagh Rugby Club on September 10 at 8pm. On the night they will also be having an auction featuring sports memorabilia from leading figures in the worlds of golf, boxing, rugby, football and motorsport.
"For those who have fought and lost, for those who have fought and won, and in loving support for those who are still fighting, we feel the best gift we can give in memory of Alison is the gift of helping others."
As well as ongoing research into 'repurposing' existing drugs already on the market to treat other conditions, Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI has recently become involved in enabling patients to take part in clinical trials and are planning to fund a clinical trials nurse in the Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Centre.
"Clinical trials are particularly important as through participation a patient can gain early access to an experimental therapy that may be more effective than standard treatments. Only through clinical trials can researchers and doctors gain insight and answers about the safety and effectiveness of drugs and therapies," says Joanne Badger of Leukemia and Lymphoma NI.
Although not directly involved in registering stem cell donors, the charity actively encourages people to sign up via the Anthony Nolan charity (www.anthonynolan.org, for people aged 16-30) and DKMS (www.dkms.org.uk, for people aged 18-55).
The process involves a simple cheek sample through a DIY swab kit.
"Your details will then be placed onto the register of potential donors. It is important to note that even if you register there is only a 4-5 per cent chance of actually being asked to donate," adds Joanne.
:: To donate to Alison's Memory visit www.justgiving.com/4in48 or email alisonsmemory@gmail.com. For further information on the charity visit Leukaemiaandlymphomani.org.
