Dungiven company raising funds for Northern Ireland Cancer Care inspired by brave employee’s diagnosis

Dungiven dealership Ilex Car Sales has launched a fundraising campaign for the Northern Ireland Cancer Care charity after one of its valued employees was diagnosed with cancer. 

The JustGiving page, inspired by employee Julie Dunn, has raised a total of £2,680 within a few days of going live. The car sales company hopes to reach their goal of £5,000. 

In a Facebook post, the company shared how their staff member Julie, who has worked for them for over four years, is ‘one of the strongest, kindest, and most genuine people you’ll ever meet’.

They said Julie’s diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer and stage 2 liver cancer was a ‘heartbreaking shock’ to them all. 

However the firm stated that “in true Julie fashion, she’s facing it head-on with unbelievable courage.”

Speaking about the fundraiser, a spokesperson said: “To show our support and raise funds for Northern Irish Cancer Care, Julie and two of our staff members braved the shave – yes, clippers and all – and now we’re asking our wider network to help us reach our £5,000 fundraising goal.

“This cause means the world to us, and every donation goes directly toward supporting those affected by cancer here in Northern Ireland. We’d be incredibly grateful if you could donate and share the link.” 

Julie Dunn spoke to the County Derry Post about her cancer diagnosis and how she is facing it with bravery. 

The 51 year-old said the support she has received from her employer, along with the care she has received from professionals and charities alike, has her feeling ‘overwhelmed’ in the best way. 

The Drumahoe woman started to feel unwell in the middle of March this year. When the pain got worse she decided to go to her doctor in April. 

“I had been experiencing terrible pains in my stomach and back, especially at night time,” she said. 

“When I went to the doctors I got blood tests done for three weeks in a row.  Then I got the news they had red flagged me to Altnagelvin. They thought it was possibly bowel cancer. I have IBS and my father had Crohn’s disease so I assumed it would be bowel cancer. I was going back and forth to the doctor and my stool sample was always raised. So I got an ultrasound done to rule out ovarian cancer but it wasn’t that. 

“It wasn’t until I got my CT scan at the end of May that the tumour showed up on my pancreas. Everyone was telling me how well I looked and that I didn’t look sick because I wasn’t jaundiced. I was diagnosed on June 12 with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. They then told me it had spread and there were nodules in my liver. On July 16 I was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer.” 

Julie was given a prognosis of ten to twelve months with chemotherapy treatment.  The treatment for Julie has been ‘very severe’. The chemotherapy has been extensive in hospital along with further treatment at home. In all the treatment is over 38 hours and has made Julie feel ‘very sick’. 

Julie has worked for Ilex Car Sales for four and a half years and has nothing but praise for the support offered to her by them. 

“Work has been amazing to me. They have been so accommodating, letting me go home if I need to, even telling me to go straight to A&E when they see me sitting in pain. I’m in Dublin this weekend to see Robbie Williams in concert and my boss even offered to bring me up and down the road. They have been great people to work for. As an employee you are treated like you are one of the family by them,” she said.

“As part of the fundraiser I did ‘Brave the Shave’ for Northern Irish Cancer Care. Jason Hughes from the charity has been so good to me too. He also offered to leave me to the concert. He provides an amazing service and doesn’t ask for a penny. They are so good to anyone that is going through this. People don’t appreciate the amazing work they do. I am totally overwhelmed by the amount raised so far. I cannot get over it. The support that I have got from work, friends, family and the whole community is unreal. It is so unbelievable the amount raised so far, I’m overwhelmed by it all.” 

Julie is facing her diagnosis with a positive attitude, something she says she has always had throughout her life. 

“I just think there is somebody worse off than me. My family and friends are falling apart but I seem to be the strong one. I’m just getting on with it. I guess I had it in my mind that I had cancer before I was diagnosed. I was already thinking about cancer as a possibility. I got up and went into work the day after being diagnosed. They didn’t expect me to be there at all. But if I’m occupied at work then it stops me from overthinking. I have been working since I was 14 years-old,  I’ve never been off on the sick or on benefits. I have a laptop home with me for when I feel a little stronger I can focus on my work. There is no pressure for me to do anything but it is there if I want to do some work. To me, if you stop, you let the devil win and as I say the devil is not ready for me yet,” Julie laughed. 

Reflecting on the support she has received from the community and the health service Julie added: “Everyone has been so good. My neighbours come in and make me breakfast before I get out of bed. Everyone is incredible. There has been so much kindness offered from far and wide.

“The staff in the North West Cancer Centre have been fantastic. Everyone in the hospital is so understanding. They treat you as if they have known you for years. You're not just another patient to them. The staff have been so good at keeping me up to date with test results, asking how I’m feeling, and reminding me they are always there if they need them.” 

If you would like to donate to the campaign for Northern Irish Cancer Care you can do so here