Cancer Campaigner Una Crudden Passes Away

Ovarian cancer campaigner Una Crudden has passed away after being diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2009.

The west Belfast woman began campaigning for the promotion and awareness of the condition following her diagnosis, focusing on how many women can be misdiagnosed.

Her daughter Lisa McGarry took to Twitter this morning to say: "Goodbye to my beautiful mummy. Sweet dreams to the bravest person I know xx".

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also tweeted: "Sad to hear of the deaths of brave Ovarian cancer campaigner Úna Crudden & my dear friend Nuala Fleming."

Ms Crudden focussed much of her campaign on the fact that a lot of women were found to have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome when they had the terminal condition.

Earlier this year she received support from MLAs and Stormont changed colour for her 'Teal Takeover' campaign.

Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle said: "I am deeply saddened by the news that Una has passed away. She was tremendous campaigner who secured commitments from the Health Minister and the Public Health Agency to increase awareness of ovarian cancer to help ensure that other women were more fortunate than her in receiving earlier diagnosis and treatment.

"Earlier this year I presented her petition to the Assembly's Speaker and hosted an event in Stormont during Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. She was an articulate, courageous and inspirational lady who persuaded a Government Department to improve the provision on raising awareness of ovarian cancer."

Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson said: "Una was an inspirational fighter, tackling not only her own personal battle with cancer, but at the same time taking forward her campaign to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer.

"I was so proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with her back in February when she was named Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year and to support her throughout her campaign.

"Una leaves behind a proud legacy of helping all women. Through her tireless determination she made sure that the battle against Ovarian Cancer had a voice at the heart of Government. "

SDLP Health Spokesperson Fearghal McKinney added: "I was deeply saddened and upset to learn of the death of Una Crudden this morning. Una was a tremendously brave woman and a fierce campaigner for an Ovarian Cancer specific awareness campaign. It was my great pleasure to support and work with her as she challenged successive Health Ministers to take action to make more women aware of the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer.

"Una was also a huge voice in the campaign to end the inequality of cancer drug provision in Northern Ireland. The list of drugs available to patients in England but that aren't available here continues to grow weekly. Una was keenly aware of that and aware of the further insult that many of these drugs are discovered and synthesised in Belfast.

"The SDLP will continue the fight for equal access to cancer drugs in Una's name and for all of the cancer sufferers in Northern Ireland who deserve better. Una's legacy is a new, lasting and sincere focus on action that we can all take to help those affected by cancer. We all owe her a great debt for that."

(IT/JP)