Tyrone school to host event in support of teacher battling cancer

A FINTONA school is hosting a crucial event in support of a beloved teacher who is battling leukemia.

Denamona Primary School’s Tracy McKenna was diagnosed last May. Despite undergoing intensive chemotherapy, the cancer returned in January. Now, the mother-of-two urgently needs a stem cell transplant, and the school is rallying the local community to support her.

Principal of Denamona PS, Janet Burke, said that it was a ‘heartbreaking situation’ for the school.

She said, “Tracy isn’t just a colleague; she is our friend. She is a kind and generous person who, even in the hospital, keeps in touch and asks how the kids are. It is hard to put into words what she means to the school.

“This event aims to ensure that Tracy gets a match. Getting tested is an entirely non-invasive procedure. It is just a gentle swab of the cheek and is not as uncomfortable as a Covid test.”

After Tracy’s story was reported by the UlsterHerald and its sister website, WeAreTyrone, the blood cancer charity DKMS made contact with the family to see if they could do anything to help.

To find a matching donor, DKMS will conduct blood and bone marrow tests at the event. Tracy’s family members were tested, but none were full matches.

Therefore, the community’s support is vital to finding a suitable donor for Tracy’s treatment.

Three separate drives will be held by DKMS, with one taking place at Denamona Primary School on Saturday, March 23.

Tracy’s older sister, Louise Donnelly, has appealed on social media for local people to come forward as both blood and stem cell donors.

Louise told the Ulster Herald, “Our whole family believes that Tracy will recover, and she has told us that she will dedicate the rest of her life to helping to raise money for blood cancer charities, the City Hospital, and to helping to ensure more people become stem cell donors.

“Our local community is full of kind and caring people; I believe we just need to spread the word to get people on board. This process is very similar to just giving blood and has no implications for your health.

“I urge you all, who are eligible to become stem cell donors, to do it!”

For more information on the event on March 15, 16, and 23, you can visit the DKMS Facebook page, or to register as a donor, you can visit www.dkms.org.uk.