The South Eastern Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support would like to acknowledge the significant donation from Siobhan McCann’s fund to the Macmillan Chemotherapy Redesign Programme Board.
Siobhan McCann (26) lost her battle with cancer in May 2019, but before she died she told her family and her best friend Cormac how she wanted the money that had been raised for her fund to be spent. In October 2019 a significant donation (£101,232) was given on behalf of Siobhan’s fund by Siobhan’s parents Brendan and Geraldine to the Macmillan Unit.
This funding supported the redesign and development of a new chemotherapy unit in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald. The donation funded 16 state-of-the-art chemotherapy chairs with in built tables and lights, 16 ergonomically designed chemo stools for the nurses, 16 privacy screens and 2 computers on wheels.
Siobhan’s parents Brendan and Geraldine, her brother Ciaran and best friend Cormac had a personal tour of the unit in late September 2021 before it opened and received a token of appreciation on behalf of the chemotherapy redesign programme board from Mary Jo Thompson, Interim Assistant Director Medicine & Cancer, Paula Kealey, and Laura Scott, Ward Manager, Macmillan Unit. The gift was a picture of the primrose which is taken from the Latin word for Siobhan which means grace. One of the flowers which represent grace is the primrose.
Mary Jo Thompson said,
“the huge donation has secured state of the art equipment for the unit to enhance the patients’ comfort. The chemotherapy chairs are very comfortable and have been really well received by all the patients. It is a fitting legacy for Siobhan to leave and the Trust and Macmillan are very appreciative that Siobhan specifically chose the chemo unit at the Ulster Hospital for this donation.
Joanne Young from the Macmillan Fundraising Team in NI added, “We are incredibly grateful to Siobhan and her family for their generous donation to the Macmillan Unit. These chemotherapy chairs will make a huge difference to the comfort and wellbeing of people receiving treatment and care.”