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Among Nora's Pals, who were present at this year's walk in Killaloe, were Cora Scanlan, Sinead Connolly, Helen Mulhall and Catherine Quigley.

‘Nora’s Pals’ pay tribute in pink

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A KILLALOE primary school teacher is one of a group of friends who is supporting the Pink Ribbon Walk in memory of her late friend, Nora O’Regan.

Large groups and hundreds of individuals from every walk of life are in the pink as summer approaches, preparing for the now famous Killaloe Pink Ribbon walk on Sunday, June 8, in aid of Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society.

Everyone has his or her own personal, or communal, reason for participating in this, the fifth 10k trek through the scenic countryside around Killaloe.However, few are more enthusiastic than a small band of walkers, known as Nora’s Pals – the friends of the late Nora O’Regan, who died in April 2012 from the disease.

Cora Scanlan, from Killaloe, who now teaches at the Gaelscoil in Nenagh, started her primary teaching in the Convent school.  She recalled that Nora had been a great friend to her at the start of career.

“She was a very stylish woman and loved the colour purple. We had a mass for her in the school and we lit a purple candle for her,” said Catherine Quigley.

Nora worked as a special needs assistant in the Convent Primary School in Nenagh. Following her untimely death, the staff decided to remember her in a practical way, by taking part in the Pink Ribbon Walk, to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for breast cancer research.

“We came together under the banner of Nora’s Pals,” said school secretary, Catherine Quigley. “We are a small group but this is our tribute to a friend we all treasured. She is still sorely missed.”

Nora and her late husband, Teddy, came originally from Clonakilty in Cork. Teddy died from cancer in 1991. Nora herself contracted breast cancer about nine years ago and, following treatment and a mastectomy, was given the all-clear.

In December 2011, she developed a slight limp. It was worrying but nobody realised how serious it was. She went for blood tests and discovered that the cancer was in her liver. Less than four months later, Nora passed away, at the age of 65.
“Nora was a very good friend to all of us,” Ms Quigley said. “The Pink Ribbon Walk gave us an opportunity to come together again and do something in her memory. Staff members, past and present, take part. The school principal, Peadar O’Dwyer, ran the 10 kilometres last year.”

For more information on this year’s 10km sponsored walk and to register, go to www.pinkribbonwalk.ie and follow on Facebook.

 

by Dan Danaher

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