Tributes to Una
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Hesketh Bank woman who died of liver cancer just weeks after being recognised at the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards.
Úna McBride died at Queenscourt Hospice last month following a near two-year-long battle with liver cancer.
She was originally told she had between four and six months to live in August 2014.
Úna, who was a leadership and development coach in London before returning to the area to look after her mum and brother Sean, refused to be slowed down or prevented from helping others.
She organised a huge Courage and Sparkle concert at St George’s Hall in Liverpool earlier this year which raised around £5,000 for Queenscourt Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The concert was attended by more than 300 people and saw performances from international soprano and Voice of Liverpool Year of Culture Rachael Russell, Asa Murphy and the Danny Mannix Swing Band.
Even more exciting to Úna though were the local choirs involved, which were made up of staff from Alder Hey and patients from Whiston Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The concert was also filmed for a forthcoming DVD to raise additional funds and to allow those who were too unwell or otherwise unable to attend the concert to still be a part of it.
Shortly after the concert, Úna was awarded the Tommee Tippee Women of Courage Award at the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards.
Úna died peacefully in her sleep at the Southport-based hospice surrounded by loved ones and was laid to rest at a packed service on Thursday, July 28.
Following her death, friends and supporters of her work were quick to pay tribute to a women who was incredibly well-loved and very loving of others.
Writing on the Courage and Sparkle Facebook page, Kay Gibbons said: “A wonderful lady who loved life!! Another bright star in the sky! Goodnight God bless & sleep tight. Lots of love Kay.” Helene Michaelides added: “Such an inspiration to so many and an exceptionally brave lady. We will miss you Úna. Lot of love & thoughts to her family & friends.”
Nicola Greave wrote: “So sad to hear Úna has passed. Have wonderful memories of her concert at St George’s Hall in April and spending a great day with her at the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards only three weeks ago today. Sending love and prayers.”
Bernadette Roe was among the dozens of others to express their sympathies, adding: “Heaven is full of Sparkle now, love this lady so much, so sad.”