Crosskeys family in sky-high fundraiser
A popular Crosskeys family who lost their mother and sister to cancer just eight weeks apart will celebrate the lives of their late loved ones in unique high-flying style, and at the same time help raise crucial funding for Cuan Cancer Support Centre.
The Sheridans, with their sister Collette in the pilot’s seat, plan to do more than just wing it when their ‘Let’s Fly for Cancer’ fundraiser takes place on November 5.
“Our mum Anna Mae [Sheridan] got cancer last year and she died within six months. On her 82nd birthday. Eight weeks later, to the day, our sister Rosaleen also died from the same cancer, a tumour in her brain, and on her birthday too. That was just devastating,” explains Collette, who herself fought breast cancer, having been diagnosed three years ago.
“Mum was diagnosed pretty quickly and there was nothing they could do for her. They said that even if they had got it at day one. My sister was told the same thing. It was just one of those very rare things, and so soon after we’d buried our mother we had to bury our sister as well.”
Collette’s own cancer is in remission, but she continues to undergo regular checks at Dublin’s St Vincent’s hospital, and has received what she describes as “life changing” support from Cuan Cancer Support Centre during that time.
The planned fundraiser is a way to “give something back”, in particular to help Cuan provide transport for patients undergoing cancer treatment either locally or in Dublin.
Mum Ann Mae and sister Rosaleen are survived by the eight surviving children/siblings in the Sheridan family - John, Brian, Philip, Dympna, Collette, Martin, Stephen and Marian.
The November 5 event begins at Cavan Town’s Cathedral of Saints Patrick & Felim at 5.30pm when those in attendance have an opportunity to light a candle “in honour” of love ones fighting their own battle or in memory of those who have sadly lost their lives to the disease.
From there transport is arranged, with check-in and take off scheduled for 6pm, landing soon after at The Crosskeys Inn for Live Entertainment and light refreshments. Everyone involved is expected to have their bags packed, and come ready dressed as air hostesses and pilots.
The next take off is scheduled to hit the runway at 7.30pm, and providing there’s no unexpected turbulence along the way, passengers will arrive on time in Cavan Town hitting several local hot spot destinations, from The Black Horse to the Imperial Bar, and more!
The inspiration for ‘Let’s Fly for Cancer’ comes from Rosaleen, says Collette, who explains that her sister was a “tremendous character” and “always brilliant at doing things for her birthday. She went everywhere and anywhere for her birthday, even if it was just going up the road for a bite to eat, she made sure she got the joy out of it.”
While still ill and in hospital, Rosaleen's family organised with the hospital to host a Mad Hatters Tea Party to celebrate her birthday.
“It was so funny. We all came dressed in big hats and we made a big fuss of her. It was great. She died then on November 25. And so, to mark both their birthdays this year, we came up with ‘Let’s Fly for Cancer’.”
Collette says an important element of ‘Let’s Fly for Cancer’ is the hope of bringing some “happiness” to the lives of people also dealing with illness.
She says that learning of a diagnosis is “one of the hardest things” anyone will ever had to go through, and the uncertainty attached is “frightening”.
“When you go through cancer, it can be so hard. The whole world can feel like it’s moving on and you’re just left there, not knowing. I just want this to be something for people going through that struggle, to maybe make them laugh, and give them a little bit of hope as well, that not every day has to be a sad day and that there are going to be brighter days ahead.”