A WEST Belfast woman has raised £500 for Macmillan Cancer with the proceeds of a book published in her name.80-year-old Rosaleen Dwyer from Cullingtree Road told the Andersonstown News that she could have raised another £500 – “but the book just went so quick.”

Rosaleen’s delighted daughter Carole O’Neill explained how the book, titled Rosaleen: My Life in Verse, struck a chord with everyone who bought a copy.

“We presented our mummy with the book for her 80th birthday at a party in the Laurel Leaf bar. It was basically the story of her life and included a few poems she had written. Friends and family just snapped it up and it’s brilliant that we can donate the money to Macmillan Cancer.

“Mum has been fighting cancer for the past eight years and the Macmillan nurses would come out to make sure she is keeping okay. They are brilliant,” she said.

“Mum is doing remarkably well and she is brilliant to look after. She never complains and the book just tells people how much love she has for life.

“It’s fantastic that people bought the book and we are just so pleased to be able to give the proceeds to Macmillan.”

Fundraising assistant with Macmillan Cancer, Paula Keenan, thanked Rosaleen for her generosity. “There are currently 60,000 people in the North living with cancer so every penny counts and all funds go towards the vital services that Macmillan provides. We are very appreciative to Rosaleen and her family.”

Rosaleen’s book is now only available on Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk