A PAIR of sisters who lost their mum to bowel cancer are going the extra mile to raise money for charity and mark the 25th anniversary of her death.

Lynsey McAlees, 46, and Jennifer Booth, 44, are planning to walk a 31-mile route from their mum Janis Young’s place of birth, Coatbridge, to the place she called home in Port Glasgow as part of a donation drive for Ardgowan Hospice and Bowel Cancer UK this Saturday.

As well as being a mother to Jennifer and Lynsey, Janis, who was just 49 when she passed away, was also a stalwart of the 1st Port Glasgow Girls’ Brigade company and a well-known figure in the local community.

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Lynsey told the Tele that she and her sister had been inspired by the awareness raising efforts of the late Dame Deborah James, who died of bowel cancer last year.

Greenock Telegraph: Lynsey McAlees and Jennifer Booth taking on 31-mile trek in memory of mother

She said: “It’s the 25th anniversary of mum’s death on the second of June.

“On the twentieth anniversary we did the Kiltwalk and I thought to mark this one we could try another walk as a challenge.

“I thought we could walk from the house in Coatbridge my mum grew up in to the house she lived in Port Glasgow.

“That’s just about 31 miles and we thought that would be a good challenge and something a bit different to do.

“It’ll be me, my sister Jennifer, and her two children Evie and Euan walking.”

The girls’ brigade company that Janis gave her time to continues to honour her by presenting the Janis Young Memorial Trophy for Enthusiasm and Endeavour to a junior at their display each year.

This year’s edition of the display also saw the company collected for Ardgowan Hospice on behalf of Janis’s family.

Greenock Telegraph: Lynsey McAlees and Jennifer Booth taking on 31-mile trek in memory of mother

Lynsey added: “Girls’ Brigade and the church were big parts of her life.

“She had cancer for a few years, it did go into remission for a while but then it came back unfortunately.

“My mum was in the Hospice for nine weeks and if I remember correctly at the time that was one of the longest times they’d had a patient in for.

“They helped us through a difficult time, I was only 21 and my sister was only 18 when she passed.

“They were brilliant and really looked after her.

“The support we’ve received has been really moving.”

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Jennifer, who now works as a senior nurse at Manchester’s cancer hospital Christie’s, said: “Giving back to others was one of mum’s principles. 

“We chose two charities we know she’d want us to support – Ardgowan Hospice who cared for mum in her final days, and Bowel Cancer UK, who fund vital research into the disease.”

Those wishing to donate to the sisters’ fundraiser should visit https://www.justgiving.com/team/lynsey-jennifer.