Thousands raised in memory of Ivan

A local family has raised £6,145.08 for Friends of the Cancer Centre, in memory of the late Ivan McMurray.
The McMurray family with a cheque for Friends of the Cancer Centre after raising £6,145.08 in memory of the late Ivan McMurray with a tractor run and barbecue.The McMurray family with a cheque for Friends of the Cancer Centre after raising £6,145.08 in memory of the late Ivan McMurray with a tractor run and barbecue.
The McMurray family with a cheque for Friends of the Cancer Centre after raising £6,145.08 in memory of the late Ivan McMurray with a tractor run and barbecue.

The McMurrays, from Drumlough near Hillsborough, held a tractor run and barbeque in tribute to Ivan, who lost his battle with cancer last year.

Valerie McMurray decided to raise vital funds for one of Northern Ireland’s leading cancer charities, Friends of the Cancer Centre, after her husband, Ivan, was treated at the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital.

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Ivan started his own tractor business in 1975 so the family felt that a tractor run would be the most appropriate way to remember him.

The tractor run attracted over 232 tractors which completed the route from Drumlough, around Kinallen before going to Bullsbrook Farm for a barbecue.

Commenting on what motivated the fundraising drive Ivan’s sons, Paul and Steven McMurray, said: “We decided to organise the tractor run to raise money for Friends of the Cancer Centre after my father Ivan lost his battle with cancer last November.

“We wanted to say thank you for the tremendous care and support that my father received during his treatment.

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“We also knew that by supporting Friends of the Cancer Centre we would be giving something back and helping other families affected by cancer.

“On behalf of our family we would also like to sincerely thank all those who attended and gave so generously as without you the event would not have been such a resounding success.”

Friends of the Cancer Centre, based at the heart of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, is one of the leading cancer charities in Northern Ireland working to support cancer patients, their families and carers through key projects in the areas of clinical care, patient comforts, and research.

They currently fund 28 additional staff in the Cancer Centre, including doctors, nurses and researchers.

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Fundraising officer Sarah Breen, said: “The McMurray family have done exceptionally well in raising so much money for Friends of the Cancer Centre.

“I’d like to thank the family and everyone who came out to support them on the evening.

“The money raised will make a very big difference to the lives of patients and their families . . .”