Journey through the tulips
Charity fundraisers ‘extraordin revealed last week that they than 1.2 million TL in seven ye Cancer Association. YASEMI ‘dynamic duo’ to share s
A SADDENED Raziye Kocaismail, the founding chairman of Tulips, said that although knowing the “dynamic duo” would one day step down after achieving their aim, she had hoped that day “would never come”.
“Sue and Carole were a godsend who built a twoperson army that won the trust of all,” she said.
“They earned love and support by putting so much effort into their work.
“Through all these years, they worked tirelessly without feeling bored and are two huge figures who have contributed towards the treatment of some 2,000 patients.
“Hundreds who have shared their excitement and determination, in helping those in need as well as the association, will be suffering a huge loss by no longer having them with us.”
Despite knowing that the two are “just a phone call away”, she admitted she had yet to come to terms with not seeing so much of them.
“I am gutted, but cannot do anything but say ‘thank you’ on behalf of all the cancer patients.
“Even though they have left the fundraising scene, they manage to encourage people to continue help and support for the association.”
In a personal tribute, she added: “For me, they were two people who complemented each other with their joy and energy, and the association was lucky to have them. They have left their mark on raising cancer awareness in this country and are rarely seen true angels who were chosen.
“I wish them happiness in their new lives but want them to know that their place can never be filled at Tulips nor in my heart. I love you [Sue and Carole] like my family and will continue to do so.” THERE were tears, smiles and heartfelt emotion as Sue Tilt and Carole King recalled their sevenyear “journey” with the Help Those With Cancer Association (Tulips), which ended with their retirement from frontline fundraising — second time around — on New Year’s Eve. “We had so much fun that at times we were crying with laughter,” said Mrs Tilt as the “dynamic duo” spoke of their funniest memories, the difficulties they faced and their pride in having raised island-wide awareness among the expat community — their main objective when they set out “to do more” for Tulips.
It was personal experience of cancer that drew both to the organisation, then not widely known among the expat population. Mrs King, who emigrated to the TRNC in 2004, was introduced to Tulips in 2006 while one of her friends — who sadly later died — was battling cancer. Mrs Tilt, who moved the TRNC in 2003, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and made contact with the association with the help of Mrs King, whom she had met two years earlier. The two women then made a joint decision to help Tulips by promoting its work and raising funds while Mrs Tilt was still undergoing chemotherapy — and they began by holding their first fundraising event in 2011. “We were shocked,” said Mrs Tilt, recalling the amount of support shown back then by friends who donated items to be sold at a car boot sale. “Now, when we think back, 800TL might be nothing compared to the amounts we reached more recently, but we were so excited and thought, ‘We can do this.’ “You can’t take and not give back, and that was our key: to give back and tell people why we were raising money in order to prevent them from saying, ‘Another expat asking for money’.” Speaking about their first few months as Tulips volunteers, Mrs Tilt said: “During the first seven months, we were pulled in to help cancer patients and were not able to do any fundraising. The only way to do fundraising events was to form an Expat Cancer S rently led by Jayne Mat Kennedy. This removed dealings with people su who often had similar d [their cancer] had retur cope with it although I survivor.”
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A lasting memory, them “in goose bumps”, King.
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“We had to keep the fun for the children and asking them if they kne people who had suffere
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sky, we said