‘I don’t go a day without thinking about them’ – Shane Filan on parents’ deaths as he launches cancer fundraiser

WestlifeShane Filan has said that he misses his dear parents, who passed away from cancer just 10 months apart, “every day”.

is Mae’s mother who died of lung cancer at a hospice in Sligo on December 15, 2019 while his father Peter died of pancreatic cancer at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin on October 4, 2019. 2020.

However, Shane, 42, said he felt comfortable raising funds for the Cancer Society of Ireland (ICS), a charity that has been so kind to him and his six siblings during that difficult time. .

He said his mother used the ICS bus service to get to Galway for treatment. “It’s still very new to me, I miss them every day,” he told independent.ie, as he launched his ‘JustGiving’ page for ICS this morning.

“I don’t go a day without thinking about them, it’s crazy. It’s a bit better than last year but I still remember them all the same. It was very difficult, losing them so close together. My father was a part of my mother’s life, the two of them bonded together.

“My father was heartbroken, he was devastated without his mother around. So he also became sick, which was difficult at the time. But now, I’m happy they’re together, in a way. He doesn’t have to go through years of treatment like some people do and that’s tough on the family.

“I miss him and my mom every day, but you just have to start with it and live your life without them – it’s not easy.”

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Last year, he was appointed ICS ambassador for Daffodil Day, the charity’s flagship fundraising day – which happens on March 25 – and he has vowed to raise funds for them every year. The organization relies heavily on donations from the public to be able to do its job.

His parents have been together 55 years and he says he is still processing the pain of losing them both within a year.

“I am doing this to preserve their memory. It’s nice to know I’m doing this for them – and they would be so proud of it. They’ll be happy that I’m helping people in their situation and it’s great to have that connection with them,” he said.

“It helps people in that situation today, tomorrow or the week after they get that horrible phone call to say, ‘You have cancer.’ And it’s a scary place for anyone to deal with, it’s a huge shock to the system. It’s something you’ve been dreading all your life and some people have no one to talk to. “

Appreciating the volunteer work of ICS, he said they have helped, guided and supported those and their families affected by the disease. He said there was “great comfort” in trying to repay their support.

All funds raised from his ‘JustGiving’ page will go to ICS. All those who contribute €10 will be entered into a raffle to win a package of “the ultimate Westlife experience”.

The winners and their four guests will get to hang out backstage at Aviva Stadium during a Westlife gig on July 9, take part in a sound check and get VIP seats for the concert and Take pictures with the band. After that, they will stay at the Intercontinental Hotel.

Winners will be announced on Daffodils Day.

“Everybody looks forward to coming back to concerts again. The last few years have been horrible for everyone. So I thought ‘How can we raise funds and make it more special for a family?’ And if you are a Westlife fan, this is even better,” he said.

“My mom and dad love being at concerts, so in a way their memory will be there that night because someone won a ticket and was at the concert because of them. .”

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shane-filan