MEMBERS of the local community in St. Johnston are organising a charity climb of Errigal Mountain in memory of two family members who both died from cancer earlier this year.
Much-loved St. Johnston woman May Browne died on February 8 last after a long and brave battle with illness.
Her passing came just a month after her son-in-law, Gary Crossan, died on January 7th.
Gary, who was only 52, had only been diagnosed with cancer ten weeks earlier.
Now members of the Browne and Crossan families, along with some of Gary’s close friends, have decided to celebrate the memories of May and Gary with a special charity climb in July.
They plan to donate all the proceeds from the event to Donegal Hospice.
Gary’s friends in the local Fisherman’s Inn in St. Johnston first talked about the idea of climbing Errigal and it was then that the charity event took off.
May’s daughter Caroline Clarke is hoping that the local community and surrounding areas rally behind their fundraiser.
“It was a desperate time for all of us losing two family members so close together,” Caroline said.
“People were so good to us then. It was a terrible few weeks and we miss mammy and Gary so much. So we just thought it would be nice to do something in their memory and raise some money for charity in the process.”
Gary was married to Caroline’s sister Marie and they have three sons Caolan (20), Concur (18) and Cormac (15).
Along with her father Harry and her brother Damien, Caroline and the Browne family and their many friends want to do their bit for the hospice.
May and Harry also lost a son, Seamus, who died in 1994, and he will be in everyone’s thoughts too during the charity climb.
“We all know the support and work that the staff at the hospice do for families in times of need,” Caroline said.
“So if we can give something back as a way of saying thanks, that would be nice.”
Caroline said her mum first took unwell back in 1997 and lost an eye after contracting cancer.
The cancer returned in 2016 and she had been undergoing ongoing treatment for some time. In the months prior to her passing, she hadn’t been well and died in Letterkenny University Hospital on February 8th. She was 74.
Caroline said her mum was very well known in the local community and loved nothing more than going out to watch her grandchildren playing football with Kildrum Tigers, Lagan Harps and Raphoe Town.
She also played bingo. “Mammy was always on the go,” Caroline said.
Gary Crossan, who was originally from Porthall, worked for many years in the dog pound in Letterkenny but last year had changed career and worked on a fishing trawler.
However, after taking unwell, he was diagnosed with cancer on October 19th before passing away on January 7th.
The climb of Errigal Mountain will take place on Saturday, July 1st, starting at 10am.
Refreshments will be served after the climb at 4pm in the Fisherman’s Inn, St. Johnston.
A fundraising draw is also being organised. Sponsor cards are available by request and draw tickets are also on sale.
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