East Belfast cancer survivor (76) to walk ‘70k in May’ to help tackle poverty

Watch: 76 year old cancer survivor to walk 70km in May for charity

Jessica Rice

A 76-year-old cancer survivor from east Belfast is hoping to walk 70km in May to raise money for vulnerable communities around the world.

Suzanne Shepherd from Belmont signed up to walk the distance – just over 43 miles – as part of a fundraiser for Christian Aid.

Suzanne received surgery in 2020 to treat malignant lesions that made sitting and walking unbearably painful.

She is now able to walk again pain-free and hopes to raise as much money through her walking challenge as possible.

“I’m so thankful that I’m a survivor of cancer, and my enjoyment of walking can be put to such a good cause for Christian Aid,” she said.

Suzanne plans to achieve her 70km target with daily walks around her east Belfast home and her sister’s Lisburn home.

Suzanne Shepherd, who in 2020 received surgery to treat malignant lesions that made sitting and walking unbearably painful, has signed up to walk ‘70k in May’ to raise funds for Christian Aid’s work with some of the world’s poorest people.

The pensioner is an active member of St Dorothea’s Church of Ireland in Gilnahirk and has always been an active fundraiser within the community.

She was awarded the BEM in 2013 in recognition of her many decades spent volunteering and fundraising for charities and good causes. This year she decided to take part in Christian Aid’s ‘70k in May’ — a new initiative for Christian Aid Week, which runs until Saturday. Christian Aid’s ‘70k in May’ is a sponsored challenge to cover 70 kilometres by walking, running, cycling or swimming, in order to raise money to help some of the poorest people across the world.

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Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett thanked Suzanne for her fundraising efforts.

“Every year during Christian Aid Week, people across the UK and Ireland raise funds, act and pray for their global neighbours in a celebration of hope for a fairer world. Christian Aid Week brings people together to put our faith into action. Every prayer, every gift, every action makes a difference,” she said.

The money Suzanne raises on her daily walks will go towards this year’s Christian Aid Week appeal, which focuses on the charity’s work in Burundi, one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in Africa.

Christian Aid has been working in Burundi since 1995 when it first offered humanitarian assistance to people surviving the civil conflict. Now, alongside local partners, the organisation helps establish Village Savings and Loans Associations. These community-led groups mean people can save and borrow money, making small businesses possible, offering reliable incomes so families can eat regularly, get medicine when they need it, and build safer homes.

One of the people Suzanne will be supporting with her donations is Aline Nibogora (35).

One of those supported by Christian Aid’s local partner in Burundi is Aline Nibogora. With the profits she made selling her avocados and peanuts, Aline bought a bicycle to transport her goods further afield. Credit: Christian Aid/Ndacayisaba Epitace

Aline is a survivor of both domestic violence and homelessness, thanks to a small start-up loan from Christian Aid, she was able to begin trading avocados and peanuts locally.

With her profits, Aline bought a bicycle to transport greater quantities of goods to markets further afield and now has the money she needs to support herself and her children.

In 2021, just four months after she spent 31 nights in hospital Suzanne took part in a 75km walking challenge.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph at the time Suzanne said; "If I can inspire people that's the main thing. I also thought it would be good to do something that can bring in funds to the charity."