The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Facebook photo page is raising funds for MND
AFife community Facebook page set up to lift the spirits of a dying friend is still changing lives five years on.
Shona Jones started Elie and Earlsferry Photos when her best friend was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and became too ill to travel.
Susie Hamilin lived in Leeds for many years but missed the East Neuk village she called home.
The page now has more than 3,000 members, many of whom say it keeps them going in their hour of need.
It assisted people struggling with the Covid lockdown and gave comfort when they couldn’t attend funerals.
The page is now helping Susie’s devastated husband raise £10,000 for MND research.
Shona said: “It doesn’t cost anything to do and it brings so much joy. It was set up for Susie but the legacy is long-lasting.”
Shona and Susie became best friends at the age of 12 and stayed close through university.
Susie moved to Leeds for work and met and married husband John.
She and Shona were godmothers to each other’s children and she returned to the village regularly.
However, things changed in 2016 when, within six months of running her first marathon, Susie’s speech became slurred.
Her symptoms progressed quickly and she was diagnosed with MND.
She managed a return to Elie for one last gettogether before she died, aged 45, in April 2018.
Her children Millie and Harry were just 13 and eight.
Shona, who runs Carol’s ice cream shop, said: “We knew it was the last time she would be here.
“She was so devastated when she couldn’t travel. She missed Elie so much.
“When I put a call out for photos of the village the response was phenomenal. We now have followers all around the world, including locals, expats, people whose granny used to live here and people who come on holiday.
“We had a young man in the village who died during Covid and no-one could go to his funeral.
“Through Elie and Earlsferry Photos, lots of people all over the world lit candles and posted photographs of them.
“It was a great comfort to his mum and dad.”
The page also helped Cheshire woman Ruth Johnstone fulfil her dream of visiting Lady’s Tower in Elie. A terminal lung cancer diagnosis meant she used a mobility scooter and it wasn’t suitable for the rough terrain leading to the tower.
Through the page, Claire Pollock of Ardross Farm offered the use of a vehicle to drive her there.
“She was able to spend some time there with her husband before she died and her ashes are now scattered there,” said Shona.
Shona now hopes the community will get behind Susie’s husband John as he raises money for a state-ofthe-art MND care centre in Leeds and for Doddie Weir’s My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. He plans to walk from Melrose Rugby Club, where Doddie started his career, to Headingly, the home of Leeds Rhinos, the club of former England rugby star Rob Burrow, who also has MND.
John’s training includes a 10k run around Elie in August, with local running group The Ainster Haddies.
Shona said: “The loss of Susie has had a profound effect on her family.
“And this run will mark what would have been her 50th birthday and her and John’s 20th wedding anniversary.”