SEVEN years on since losing her Fermanagh husband to pancreatic cancer, Kerry Irvine says she has seen significant changes in the discussion surrounding the disease often dubbed “the silent killer”.
And thanks to her and a number of others from Northern Ireland who have been directly affected by the disease, that discussion made headline news last week when they launched community group NIPanC, with County Down actor, Jamie Dornan as its patron.
Kerry set up Action 4 Noel in 2014 after the love of her life and father of her two children, Noel Irvine, died from the cruel disease in 2011.
The charity has provided a means for her to honour his memory as well as continue her fight against Pancreatic Cancer by raising awareness of its early signs and symptoms and raising money for research.
But on Wednesday last week Kerry bravely stood in front of guests of NIPanC’s launch at the Mater Hospital, including Jamie, his sister Jess and their father Professor Jim Donan and declared that it was time to let Noel’s charity go in order to concentrate on the vision laid out for the new community group.
NIPanC’s aims to end all deaths from pancreatic cancer in Northern Ireland by increasing public understanding, promoting professional awareness, funding research and supporting patients. 
The group has been developed in partnership with Pancreatic Cancer Action and Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund and hopes to give a stronger voice to families in Northern Ireland.
Describing the run up to the launch as “a bit of a whirlwind” Kerry says the reaction has been “mindblowing”.
“If last Wednesday has demonstrated anything, it is that working together is the best way forward,” she said. 
“Look at the response we got.
“And I’m not just talking about Jamie Dornan and the huge following that he has - I’m talking about the fact that the Department of Health has endorsed this and and sees just how important the need is. I think we have made great strides and that this is only going to get stronger.”
Jamie and his siblings lost their mother, Lorna, 20 years ago when he was only 16.
“A couple of months ago in a NIPanC committee meeting we were discussing how we needed a ‘face’ to front the group,” Kerry explained, “I had already contacted Jamie previously through his dad and our chairman, Dr. Mark Taylor knew his father too. So he said: ‘Let’s ask him’.
“We were just stunned and over the moon when both Jamie and Jim agreed to come on board.”
According to Kerry, letting go of Action 4 Noel has been “bitter sweet”.
“I was always going to carry on Action 4 Noel as well as NIPanC but when it all started to become a reality and we decided where we were going with the group I realised I couldn’t continue with both.
“In the last seven years I have met and lost so many people to pancreatic cancer - not just Noel. So it was important to me to have their stories told as well.
“Action 4 Noel was always about keeping his memory alive and telling his story, and that will still be a big part of NIPanC.”
Reflecting on the highly emotive launch last Wednesday Kerry said she was hugely appreciative of the time the Dornan family gave to the cause.
“I actually wanted to give Jamie a big hug, not because of who he is, but because I know that Wednesday must have been extremely hard for him too. It was so close to the anniversary of his mother’s death and I could see from his face that it is still very hard, and he was so young when she died.”
Since losing Noel in 2011 Kerry says she has seen changes in the right direction for pancreatic cancer awareness.
“We will keep the momentum going now,” she said, “NIPanC supporters are already organising fundraisers and as a committee we are looking at fundraisers for early next year.
“I have seen changes being made - but there always is a frustration that it is never quick enough. Yes there are more and more people talking about pancreatic cancer. But more needs to be done.”