Kirton angel Kerry in Action for Noel to turn tables on cancer

A mum-of-two from Kirton is asking for help to take on one of the UK's deadliest diseases in memory of her husband.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Oct 2016, 15:00 BST
Updated 16th Nov 2016, 16:23 BST
CANCER ACTION: Noel and Kerry Irvine, with children Nathan and Ellie.CANCER ACTION: Noel and Kerry Irvine, with children Nathan and Ellie.
CANCER ACTION: Noel and Kerry Irvine, with children Nathan and Ellie.

Kerry Irvine, who now lives in Northern Ireland, is planning a fundraising and awareness campaign for World Pancreatic Cancer Day on November 17.

Five years earlier, Kerry lost her husband Noel Irvine to pancreatic cancer after he went through a seven-month period of blood tests, scans, a biopsy and chemotherapy.

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Kerry said: “Noel and I started fundraising together in August 2011 when we renewed our wedding vows, ten years to the day when we were married.

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“We’d actually planned a trip to America together, but Noel was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and so that trip never took place.

“The Action for Noel Fund was formed in 2014 because one of the difficulties with pancreatic cancer is diagnosing it early enough to get curative, rather than palliative care.”

Kerry, whose dad still lives in Kirton, has the support of Kirton Medical Centre in raising awareness of pancreatic cancer which was named as the tenth most common form of cancer in the UK by Cancer Research UK in 2014.

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The centre is hosting a Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day on November 2017, but Kerry is also asking people across South Holland and villages south of Boston, including Kirton, to join Purple Lights for Hope and turn a people light on for the day.

BINDING TIES: Kerry and Noel Irvine renew their marriage vows in August 2011.BINDING TIES: Kerry and Noel Irvine renew their marriage vows in August 2011.
BINDING TIES: Kerry and Noel Irvine renew their marriage vows in August 2011.

Kerry said: “As a charity, Pancreatic Cancer Action is running a campaign to get as many places as possible to illuminate purple on November 17 and throughout Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

“I would like people in Kirton to join in because I grew up in Kirton and lived there before moving to Northern Ireland 18 or 19 years ago.

“Most of my family are still in Kirton and a lot of my childhood friends are in the village.

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“November 17 is World Pancreatic Cancer Day and I would really appreciate help in getting the message out there about the tenth biggest cancer killer that few people seem to really know about.”

To support Kerry and Action for Noel, visit https://pancreaticcanceraction.org/support-us/fundraise/action-funds/action-4-noel-2/about-action-4-noel/

Related topics:Northern IrelandCancer Research UK