Anne-Marie was a loving daughter, a wonderful sister to Adam and Natalie and a trusted friend. She had a brilliant future ahead of her and was a grade A student in St. Philomena Secondary School for Girls. Anne-Marie loved and enjoyed life to the full and loved playing netball, rounders, reading and singing along to her favourite boy band, "Westlife." The boys in the group sent a Christmas message to Anne-Marie via a video and Brian McFadden phoned her on her mobile shortly before her death. Anne-Marie was a keen Irish dancer prior to her teenage years and won numerous medals and trophies.
During a family holiday in Mauritius in August 2002 Anne-Marie began to show unusual symptoms, such as dizziness, double vision and unsteadiness. On return to England Anne-Marie was diagnosed with a grade IV brain stem glioma for which there is no cure. The love and strength of Anne-Marie's extended family and friends saw her through the next seven months during which she had six weeks of Radiotherapy.
Anne-Marie spent Christmas in Ireland with her family, aunts, uncles and cousins. In January 2003 Anne-Marie decided to return to school twice a week and enjoyed being back with her friends and being in the gang again. Sadly this did not last long by the end of January she was too ill again to attend school.
Anne-Marie never gave up and her loving spirited nature shone through right to the end. Anne-Marie sadly died on 28th March 2003 just two weeks before her sixteenth birthday. Since Anne-Marie's untimely death her family have been fundraising by organising a charity dance on or near Anne-Marie's birthday to help try and find a cure for this devastating illness. To date they have raised over £8000 for the fund.
Fundraising
A Charity Dance in memory of Anne-Marie will be held on 19th April at Colin Peel Hall, London Road, North Cheam. Tickets are available from George and Nora or please phone the office for more information.
