Siblings raise thousands in memory of their beloved sister Oonagh

THE brother and sister of a Strabane nurse who tragically lost her life in a car accident last year are continuing the kindness and compassion she was renowned for by running the 2025 Strabane Lifford Half Marathon in her memory next month.

Oonagh Burns dedicated her life to caring for people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia at the Three Rivers Care Home in Omagh and her siblings want to continue her legacy by raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Society at the event on Sunday May 18.

Their fundraising efforts have already raised over £7,000.

It will be a first ever Half Marathon for both Teresa and Paddy Burns who have been preparing under the watchful eye of Lifford Strabane AC coaches after joining the club’s Fit 4 Life program last Christmas.

“Paddy wasn’t all that into running or fitness growing up,” laughed Teresa. “Funny enough, our dad was even his PE teacher and he still ‘forgot’ his PE gear, which is still a running joke in the family.

“I’ve always been quite active myself, playing football from a young age with Sion Swifts and representing Northern Ireland in youth competitions but I’ve stepped back from it a bit over the past few years.”

With less than five weeks to go before race day, Teresa and Paddy are reaching the business end of their training but the vision of running at an event embedded in their community is spurring them on.

They have been overwhelmed by the public’s support and have drawn comfort from the fact that Oonagh’s legacy of helping families living with dementia continues following her untimely passing.

“We are honestly over the moon,” said Teresa. “We originally set out to raise £2,000, and to have now tripled that is beyond anything we expected.

“Supporting the Alzheimer’s Society means so much to us – and to see how many people have come together to help us do that, in memory of Oonagh, has been incredibly moving.

“She would be so proud of this, and we know she’s smiling down on it all.

“It’s been such a comfort to us, our parents and sister Katherine, knowing her name and spirit continue to bring people together.”

Oonagh was employed at the Three Rivers Care Home in Omagh where she was loved by staff, patients and their families for her attentive, compassionate and selfless nursing style.

Teresa agrees that her sister was born to be a nurse and it was much more than a job.

“Oonagh had such a special gift for helping and caring for people– it wasn’t just her job; it was her calling.

“She had a way of making everyone around her feel seen, heard, and cared for – whether that was the patients she worked with or their families, or even her colleagues at the Three Rivers Care Home.

“In the time since her passing, we’ve heard so many stories from people whose lives she touched – the impact she had goes far beyond what we even realised.

“She was truly one of a kind, and her compassion was at the heart of everything she did.”

Paddy and Teresa will run in custom made t-shirts in remembrance of Oonagh on May 18 and know she will be with them along every step of the 13.1 mile course.

“Every single donation, big or small, has meant the world to us,” Teresa added.

“You’ve helped turn something so painful into something hopeful and that’s a gift we’ll never forget.”

l You can donate to Paddy and Teresa’s fundraising exploits through their Just Giving page ‘Paddy and Teresa’s fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society’ at https://www.justgiving.com/page/paddy-burns-3?utm_medium=FR&utm_source= CL&utm_campaign=015