Charity event in memory of their son Kyle

Kyle McCracken was diagnosed with cancer on Valentine’s Day 2005. He died four weeks later aged 17.

His mum Donna thinks about him every day and his sister Kirsty, who died at the age of seven in 1997 after suffering from Spina Bifida.

She said the loss of two children is something she’ll never get over but that it has made her family stronger.

To raise money for Clic Sargent in Kyle’s memory a five-a-side football competition has been organised for March 8 and continuing on March 13, followed by a night in the Royal British Legion.

Talking of losing her son, Donna said: “It feels like yesterday we lost Kyle.

“I would think about him all the time, every day from I wake in the morning until I go to bed at night.

“It’s been particularly hard this year as I’ve lost my mum and dad as well. My dad died on Kyle’s birthday.

“It pushes you one way or the other when you lose a child. It’s brought us closer together but in many cases you hear about parents splitting up. If you’ve got each other you’ll get through it. That’s how I see it.

“We lost Kirsty and we lost Kyle, but we’ve got Katie-Louise and she’s a living reminder of both the children we lost. You couldn’t wish for a better girl.”

Anyone wishing to enter a team in the five-a-side tournament should get in touch with Gary Liggett or Stephen McCartney through Facebook.

Those wishing to make a donation can do so be searching online for ‘Remember Me Kyle McCracken’.

Kyle had been a keen footballer playing for Bluestone BB, Lurgan Town and Glenavon. He was due to begin service in the army before being diagnosed with cancer on Valentine’s Day 2005.