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BY CHERYL COLEPICTURES BY MARK JAMIESON

“I know it’s a cliché but she really

was an angel. There wasn’t a bad bone in her body and we want to

remember her name every single

day.” Cynthia tells us about her sister-

in-law Gillian.

Gillian Adams, 42, sadly passed

away in July following a short battle

with cancer and Cynthia Elder, along

with other members of the devastated

family, have set up ‘The Gillian Adams

Angel Foundation’ in her memory.

The charity aims to help families

aff ected by cancer in the Ballycastle,

Ballymoney and local rural areas.

was anGillianangelTheir world was shattered by the loss of their loved one to cancer,

but a Ballymoney family have found a generous and selfless way of coping with their heartbreak.

Desperate to make a diff erence and anxious to help others, they aim to off er families either a grocery hamper, heating voucher, travel card for transport to treatment or family fun day vouchers up to the value of £100 – all in the hope of making the terrible experience slightly easier.

Cynthia, 41, tells us: “It wasn’t until Gillian was diagnosed that we truly saw how much the families of suff erers are aff ected by cancer. There are amazing charities for cancer suff erers but we wanted to start one that focuses on helping the families aff ected. During Gillian’s battle, our eyes were opened to how diffi cult a time families can have, not only emotionally but fi nancially too. One of Gillian’s nurses told us of local families who couldn’t even aff ord heating due to the fi nancial impact the cancer had had.

“Gillian had less than seven months of her precious life after diagnosis. We want to help families make memories in case of the worst and that’s why we are providing family fun day vouchers.”

Speaking to the devastated family, it is obvious they are still coming to terms with their loss and that the grief is still very raw. But in the six weeks since Gillian’s passed the family have pulled together to use their pain as motivation for a new venture – one they believe Gillian would have been very proud of.

“Gillian was a very shy and quiet girl who kept herself to herself so she’d maybe have been a wee bit embarrassed by all this!” her sister in law Adele Elder admits.

“But, she was a very generous and charitable girl and would be so proud that we were giving something back in her name. It wasn’t until after she passed and we were going through her post that we realised how many charities Gillian was actually donating to, so we know she’d be over the moon at us setting up a charity in her honour.

“In November last year I got a phone call from Gillian one evening complaining of tummy pains. The

next day she was rushed to hospital and that was the beginning of our nightmare. It was completely out of the blue as Gillian seemed the picture of health. After tests in hospital they thought she had trapped wind in the cavity of her bowel and wanted to take part of it away but in theatre they found a tumour. Her world just turned upside down. And less than seven months later she was gone.”

Adele continues: “She was a strong girl, never complained once during her treatment and was never afraid of dying. She remained positive right until the very end. Even the Saturday before her death she was still talking about what she was going to do when she got better.”

Cynthia, who lives in Stranocum, tell us: “It was a huge shock to us all. We really believed she was going to get better and the treatment seemed to be going well. But from the fi rst day she went to the hospital it only ever

seemed like bad news. The cancer was found to have spread from her bowel to her lung, liver and lymph nodes and shortly before she died, an infection meant she couldn’t get her second round of chemotherapy. The only good thing to come from this awful experience is that Gillian found God when she was in hospital and this gave her strength and peace of mind to deal with it all.”

She continues: “Gillian was a family girl. Her husband, her sons and her house were just her life and it’s been incredibly diffi cult for John and her boys. Gillian and John had the most incredible relationship, they were so in love and had a bond that even I’m a little jealous of and I’m happily married!

“He was her rock and no matter what it was, Gillian looked to John to fi x it . But despite trying to get private treatment for his wife, this was the one time John couldn’t fi x her and it broke his heart.”

Although the charity initially began with just Cynthia and Adele, the rest of the family soon got involved. Gillian’s other sister-in-law Jane Elder, mother Bernie Elder and her sons Jordan and Jonathan Adams are all now involved in the charity. Although the family have always been close, Adele believes this project has brought them even closer.

“At a time like this, we all need each other for support and focussing on the charity is really helping us cope. We want it to be a long standing charity that will grow and help people for years to come. But obviously we are just in the beginning stages so before we can make this a reality, we need as much support as possible, and fundraising will be vital.”

A fundraising Pudding Party will be held at Stranocum Community Centre, Friday 18th September at 7.30pm. A Memory Walk and Balloon Release for lost loved ones will be held on Saturday 10th October 2015 at 11am from The Church of God, Ballymoney.

For more information call: Adele Elder 07921395026 Cynthia Elder 07856582869

“One of Gillian’s nurses told us of local families

who couldn’t even aff ord heating due to

the fi nancial impact the cancer had had.”

“One of Gillian’s nurses told us of local families

who couldn’t even aff ord heating due to

An Angel Foundation has been set up in memory of the late Gillian Adams who died only weeks ago. Included front right John Adams wife of the late Gillian his son (left)

Jordan. Back- Adele , Jayne, Bernie and Cyntha Elder.

John Adams and his late wife Gillian.