Twilight walk at Lammy for Phyllis and Marie Curie

The McElhatton siblings, along with the rest of their family and friends have organised what will be a poignant Twilight Walk for Marie Curie on Wednesday, 29, in memory of their mother Phyllis, a childminder who is fondly remembered by many in Omagh for her warm heart and dry wit.

The route has been drawn up to follow a path filled with memories of Phyllis; each plot-point dotted along the walk represents a place of special significance in the life of Phyllis and her family.

“We will begin in Todd’s Field (opposite St Conor’s) at 7pm,” said Phyllis’s daughter, Philippa, “where the children Mummy minded spent time each day after school.

“Then up we’ll go up the Tamlaght Road, past the shop where Mum used to get Dad’s papers, and on past the Convent school, for which Mum used to knit jumpers for the nuns.

The extended clan will then venture up the town, passing many monuments of memory; the Sacred Heart were Phyllis and husband Porie were wed; the INF where she danced many nights away; Gortmore Park where she grew up as a young girl; the bingo hall where she said her prayers and chanced her luck; Centenary Park where she raised her own family; and Lammy where she live happily for decades, surrounded by family, children and friends.

“After the walk,” said Philippa, “we will then create a path of lanterns from the entrance of the park to the bench that mum would have sat on.”

In an emotional Facebook post, Phillipa invited everyone to come along, and expressed her gratitude to those who have donated so far.

She concluded, “Mum you are everywhere we go, forever in our hearts, forever in our memories and we love you.”

The walk begins at 7pm. To donate, visit the JustGiving page by clicking the link https://www.justgiving.com/team/Phyllis