Cancer Victim Honoured By 'Donuts For Donors' Campaign

The family of a Belfast woman who lost her life to cancer last year have launched an awareness and fundraising campaign in her memory.

The Eimear's Wish initiative 'Donuts for Donors' was established to raise money and awareness of stem cell donation following 25 year-old Eimear Gooderham's death in June 2019.

Eimear was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in September 2016 and embarked upon a lengthy battle for a stem cell donor. The young woman received a transplant in November 2018 but sadly passed away shortly afterwards due to complications.

Now, her family hope a campaign centred upon her favourite sweet treat will inspire others to get involved and raise money and awareness for stem cell donation, a subject Eimear believed in passionately.

Event organiser and Eimear's dad, Seán Smyth, is hoping that the Northern Ireland public will get behind their fundraising efforts to raise the much needed funds and encourage discussion around stem cell and organ donation.

Mr Smyth said: "Eimear was an amazing woman. She never moaned, never complained, and had the ability to turn something negative into a positive, being brave enough to stand up and make people aware of the Anthony Nolan stem cell register that helped with Eimear's stem cell search.

"Once Eimear found her match, she continued to raise awareness because she wanted to make sure there was a match for everyone else who needed one."

Local donut company Taboo are making 500 special edition Eimear's Wish donuts to help raise awareness of stem cell donation. The limited-edition donut will be available to buy in Taboo Belfast coffee shops.

The profits raised through sales will be divided between three charities of Eimear's choice: blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, Action Cancer, and Friends of the Cancer Centre.

Tucking into a donut at City Hall, Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Daniel Baker encouraged everyone to get the kettle on and join the campaign.

He said: "This is a very important initiative which is helping to shine a spotlight on the important topic of stem cell donation and organ donation generally.

"The team at Eimear's Wish have worked tirelessly to keep the spirit of Eimear alive and continue her great work by making stem cell donation an important topic of conversation.

"On Friday 31 January I will be hosting a special coffee morning in the Parlour for people and families affected by stem cell transplants and I'm calling on everyone across the city to follow suit and get involved for this great cause."

Belfast City Hall will also be illuminated pink on Friday 31 in support of the Eimear's Wish campaign and to mark Stem Cell Donation Awareness.



(JG/CM)