Nina Boyle from Derry was the much-loved wife and childhood sweetheart of Thomas and a devoted mother to her seven children, Karen, Thomas, Maria, Stephen, Dean, Matthew and Ryan.

Sadly, Nina died on Christmas Day, 2018, surrounded by her loving family at Foyle Hospice. Nina had been a keen supporter of Foyle Hospice and she, her daughters and her sisters participated in numerous fundraising events until Nina became terminally ill with Motor Neuron Disease. However, the family continue to support Foyle Hospice in memory of Nina.

On Christmas Day, as a fitting tribute to their mother on her anniversary and to raise funds for Foyle Hospice and awareness about the services they provide, the three youngest boys of the house, Dean, Matthew and Ryan, will take the plunge. They will be braving the icy-cold waters of Lough Swilly for the annual Foyle Hospice Christmas Day Swim. This year at 11am on Christmas morning on Ludden Beach, Buncrana, the boys will take the plunge with dozens of other daring dippers! The brave lads will have a brisk swim to celebrate their mother’s life while giving something back to Foyle Hospice for the compassion and care their mother received and the support the family were shown throughout her illness and following her death.

Thomas, husband of the late Nina, said: “We lost the most important person in our lives, a light went out in our home and part of us went with her but, all I can tell you is that, if it hadn’t been for the Foyle Hospice, we wouldn’t have had the strength to be sitting here telling our story now.”

Her son, Dean, added: “No matter who has had an experience with the Foyle Hospice, they all have something positive to say about it. The personal touch that you get from the Foyle Hospice is like nothing else.

“Obviously it’s difficult, especially at this time of year, but I remember when she was in the Hospice, there was a carol service singing, there were decorations up and, on Christmas Day itself, the staff gave us the option to have Christmas dinner in the room with our Mum. What a gesture; we were able to spend our last Christmas together.

“The Hospice went above and beyond. It was beautiful. The fact that we could sit and have our Christmas dinner and share gifts with her there, we didn’t want to go home; it was like we already were home…because we were with our Mum.”

The Boyle family said they know Foyle Hospice has touched the lives of so many local people, just like them, and to honour the memory of a precious wife and mother, they hope to give something back in her memory. As Foyle Hospice is a community-run hospice, it relies on donations from the public for around 65% of its running costs. That’s why every donation, no matter how small, makes a positive difference in the lives of those receiving care and their families.

All donations will be gratefully received.

Thank you.

The Boyle family.