RELATIVES of a young west Belfast mother who died suddenly are to abseil down one of the city's most iconic buildings to raise funds for her children.
Louise McIlwaine, who was originally from Lenadoon, passed away in the intensive care unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital in January, one week after she suffered an epileptic seizure outside her parents' home at Rinnalea Gardens.
The 30-year-old, who was a talented hairdresser and beauty therapist, had just kissed her two little boys, Tom and Martin, goodbye.
She never regained consciousness after undergoing emergency brain surgery and passed away with her family by her bedside.
Eight months on, 30 relatives including aunts, uncles and cousins are set to abseil down the Europa Hotel on September 24 in a bid to start a trust fund for 10-year-old Tom and Martin (7).
Dubbed `Louise's Falling Angels', the family team will undertake the challenge on what they are calling a `day of celebration' in memory of Louise.
Jim McIlwaine, Louise's uncle, who is taking part along with his wife Mary and their two daughters, said they want to ensure her children are looked after.
"As they never wanted for anything when she (Louise) was alive, the family wanted some sort of trust fund for when they come of age," he said.
"The family are going to be abseiling from the roof of the Europa on Sunday September 24. Everybody has a sponsorship sheet and her cousin, Lynsey McIlwaine, has set up a Just Giving page. We have an initial target of £6,000 to start the ball rolling."
Mr McIlwaine, who owns the Coffee House Bistro on the Stewartstown Road where some sponsorship forms are available, described his niece as a "very fun-loving and adventurous girl" who "would have been one of the first to take part in something like this".
"She would have gone out to help anybody in the same situation as her two boys," he said.
"She is terribly missed.
"Louise's life was her two boys, Tom and Martin, and she would have given them anything so now it's the family's turn to hopefully ensure the boys have a good start in life, the way Louise would have wanted."
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/europaabseil
