SWAH colleagues to honour nurse Anne's memory with walk

The late Anne McCarney (47) , a nurse who worked in South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) Neonatal Unit will be remembered on the first anniversary of her passing on Tuesday, May 24.

Anne was 47 and from the Drumnakilly area of Tyrone and worked for many years in SWAH neo-natal and would be a familiar face to many parents and families who were nursed by her and her colleagues over the years.

Paying tribute to Anne and explaining why the walk has been organised in her memory, her colleague Joan Cunningham said: "Anne was both a friend and colleague who worked with us in the Neonatal Unit for 16 years as a Senior Staff Nurse.

Anne McCarney

Joan explained that Anne's diagnosis of cancer last year was sudden. She said: "Anne’s illness came as a shock to us last year. She was admitted to hospital in April for tests and never came home. Her cancer was very aggressive. The walk is our way to honour Anne on her first anniversary."

The group honouring Anne will walk the Cranaghan Walk Way at the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell on Saturday, Joan said: "Cranaghan Way Walk was chosen as most of Anne’s colleagues are in the Fermanagh area and we wanted a walk which would suit all abilities. Anne loved walking and would have appreciated the beauty surrounding the walk."

The money raised on the memorial walk will be split between two charities, Joan said: "Our aim is to raise as much as possible for the Palliative Care Ward in Omagh as the care Anne received there was exceptional. Anne was so grateful to all the staff she encountered in her short stay there.

"She would love to think that we were returning something to the Ward which would help others. The second charity was Anne's favourite charity, Children in Crossfire."

The walk will begin at 11am on May 24 and a raffle will be held afterwards in Blake's, Derrylin.

There are multiple donation options at present if you wish to donate to the walk in Anne's memory. Joan said: "At present we have PayPal joanc12@hotmail.com (friends & family option), Revolut, Bank Transfer, Mobile Phone payments and a GoFundMe page. Staff in the Neonatal Unit can also be contacted to purchase lines if paying cash is preferred."