Janet takes on Night Walk for her ‘amazing’ mum Rose
HER mum will be on her mind every step of the way as determined Janet Ross takes part in a night-time walk to raise money for life-saving cancer research.
Janet was heartbroken after her mum, Rose Rooney, died from bowel cancer on December 5, 2016.
The 73-year-old had decided to stop treatment and chose to die at home surrounded by her loved ones.
Now, vet surgery receptionist Janet has teamed up with her daughter, Natalie Ross, 26, to take part in Scotland’s only Cancer Research UK Shine Night Walk.
The 47-year-old said: “Mum will be on my mind every step of the way as we walk through Glasgow at Shine.
“I feel lucky to have had such an amazing mum.
“Sometimes it can be the daft things like laughing together as we watched a quiz show on television that I miss while at other times I wish I could just pop in to visit mum like I used to.
“She was such a well loved nanna as well. When my own children were growing up my mum was a brilliant help, stepping in to look after my kids overnight or giving them tea after school.
“She’d take my kids off on an adventure somewhere in the summer holidays.
“There are so many happy memories and the world is definitely a less colourful place without mum.”
It’s not the first time Janet has lost a loved one to cancer. She was 13 when her step dad, Jackie Rooney died from lung cancer in 1983.
His death made Janet’s mum Rose a widow aged just 39, leaving her to bring up her four children single handedly at first.
Rose also stepped up to take in her nephew George Murphy after his mum died.
She later met and fell in love with George Rae who became her partner for the next 20 years.
After George died from a heart attack in August 2004, Rose was determined to become independent, even learning to drive for the first time – passing her test aged 62 on her seventh attempt.
It was a shock when Rose was diagnosed with bowel cancer in June 2015.
Keen not to worry the rest of the family, Rose kept many details of her illness secret and towards the end of 2016, she stopped treatment.
After stays at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Rose chose to die at home with her children, Janet, Fiona Bell, Catrina McDonald and Derek Rooney and nephew George by her bedside.
She also left nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Janet said: “Mum died close to Christmas time and that first Christmas without her was difficult but we got through it as a family together.”
The Shine Night Walk on August 18 at 9pm starts at the SEC before a 10K route takes walkers past some of Glasgow’s best loved landmarks.
Susan Johnstone, Cancer Research UK’s national event manager in Scotland, said: “We’re so pleased to bring Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walk to Glasgow again.
“The battle against cancer never stops.
“Participants can choose to complete the course at their own speed, from a leisurely stroll to a lively stride or a full-on power walk.
“The atmosphere promises to be unique as Glasgow unites in the fight against the disease.
“It’s an opportunity for people to come together to remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer.” To enter Shine Night Walk see www.shinewalk.org