THE twin sister of a Co Armagh woman whose cancer blog inspired thousands before her death has told of her family's plans to set up a charity to help others "see the light" as she did.
Sabrina Ryan (32), from Killean near Newry, lost her battle with a rare form of lung cancer in April 2015.
The fashion buyer had set up a 'So She Knows' blog following her diagnosis in 2011 sharing her personal journey through her illness and giving fashion tips and advice to other cancer sufferers.
The site attracted a huge following that led to her becoming a spokeswoman for the Irish Cancer Society.
Now almost two years after her death, her family have established the Sabrina Ryan Foundation to "ensure her legacy lives on".
Her twin Donna McNamee said they aim to financially assist people through the "emotional and lifestyle effects of cancer treatment" and hope to continue her sister's "inspiring work".
"Sabrina was just 27 when she was first diagnosed, she was a non-smoker, healthy, she went to the gym and ate well. It began with what she thought was a chest infection and with her having asthma, she just passed it off as that," she said.
"She had had shoulder tip pain and blamed it on playing tag rugby and I remember joking to her it was probably all those bags and shoes she was carrying around as she was a buyer for Dunnes Stores.
"I was working as a nurse in Dublin at the time and I told her to come in one night when it was quiet and I would X-ray her.
"At first looking at the X-ray, I thought it was pneumonia but over the space of the next week, it turned out it was something more serious."
During her cancer treatment, Ms Ryan, who married husband Paul within months of learning she was ill, began a blog documenting practical, fashion and beauty advice to people going through similar experiences,including how to deal with hair loss, where to get a wig and how to draw on eyebrows.
"Sabrina tried to remind people who read her blog to see the positives of life even through their darkest days, which is why we've created this foundation so we can keep that message going," she said.
"Sabrina lost her hair twice and that really hit her hard. She was in the fashion business and still wanted to look glam but when her eyebrows and eyelashes then began to disappear, she realised that there little help out there.
"It was even simple things like getting her eyebrows done properly and them not being washed off in the rain that transformed her life and she wanted to share that with others.
"She would take photographs of herself getting these things done and put them on her blog so others could do the same.
"She always said everything happens for a reason and if she could help even just one person, then it was worthwhile. She tried to remain as positive even though she detested cancer so much."
Ms McNamee said that despite their heartache, her family have established the Sabrina Foundation in a bid to continue her sister's courageous work.
Their first official event, a Valentine's Gala Ball, will take place at the Carrickdale Hotel on February 11.
"The whole aim of the foundation is to make someone smile and feel good about themselves whilst going through one of the hardest things any person should have to go through," said Ms McNamee.
"We will financially assist people through the emotional and lifestyle effects of cancer treatment, from paying for a wig, eyebrow embroidery and access and referral to counselling or helping them with the cost of complementary therapies.
"Sabrina was just a ray of sunshine and she literally never looked at the negative bit of having cancer. We want to keep the light that Sabrina saw life through going, we want to keep her memory alive."
Tickets for the launch are available from the Carrickdale or Canal Court Hotels or visit www.facebook.com/thesabrinaryanfoundation for information.
