By Megan Conroy

WITH only days to go before the annual Foyle Hospice Walk, one young girl will be holding her head higher than most this year.

Nine year old Emma Forbes will take on the three mile walk in memory of her late grandfather George Hamilton who lost his life recently following a long battle with lung cancer.

George was a patient at the Foyle Hospice's Day Care Centre, a place he throughly enjoyed up until his death.

Thanking everyone who made her father's last few years as comfortable as possible, Emma's mum Georgina said, " I would like to give a special thanks to all the Foyle Hospice staff who were involved with caring for my father, especially to Rose Green."

The walk will take place this coming Sunday and will consist largely of family members who want to repay the Hospice in some way.

Georgina added, "My two sisters cared for my father throughout his illness and the Day Centre was a great release not only for my dad but for my sisters who needed a break every now and then."

Georgina also took part in the Walk in June, and it was this achievement that gave her young daughter the push to get involved with the charity.

Little Emma hopes that by raising £100 for the Hospice she will make her grandfather very proud.

"I have always wanted to do this for grandad and I hope that he will be looking down on me and be proud."

The Annual Foyle Hospice Walk was born four years ago, in memory of the late Joe Mc Elroy, who was in the very first support group founded by the Foyle Hospice. Joe passed away 15 years ago, and his family and friends hope that by keeping the walk going every year, Joe's memory will live on.

Looking forward to this year's event, Strabane area fundraiser for Foyle Hospice Alban Norrby added, "Over the past few years the walk has consistently built in numbers, we hope to continue that trend. To acheive over 100 people would be a great sucess for us."

To recieve an entry/sponsorship pack contact the Strabane Office on (028) 71 886241 or email strabane@foylehospice.com.