Dear friends, colleagues and compassionate hearts, our community has taken the decision to set up this fundraising page to help provide support for the family of our amazing friend & community activist Sharon Nelson who passed away aged 47 surrounded by her loving husband and two children after a long and courageous battle with cancer, which Sharon faced with dignity, positivity and integrity.

When faced with this challenge, Sharon vowed to work on for her community and family for the past seven years.

Michael, Sharon and their kids are absolute legends. They are selfless, hardworking, humble and private. Sharon worked tirelessly for the community of West Belfast during her twenty year career in roles within the Falls Community Council & Whiterock Children’s Centre as a community development & family support worker. Her work touched the lives of many families across this City and now it is our turn to support her much loved husband and two children Michael and Niamh.

Sharon was a strong advocate for Human Rights and Language Rights and was also a committed socialist and internationalist who spent decades tirelessly campaigning in solidarity with those struggling against imperialism and oppression a true pillar of this community. She attended many community campaigns as an advocate for social justice and social change which she embedded in her professional and personal life. Michael & Sharon have raised two incredible children giving them the gift of being educated through the medium of Irish. Michael & Niamh both attended Bunscoil and tSléibhe Dhuibh and are pupils of Coláiste Feirste and members of Glór na Móna, where their mother acted a dedicated board member for many years. The family are also members of Laochra Loch Lao CLG and traditional music schools within our community.

As Sharon would remind us continuously, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. When it comes to a family’s time of need, our community always steps up to play their role. We are asking you all to kindly donate what ever you can afford, in order to support and help Michael, Michael Jnr & Niamh in their difficult road ahead without their beautiful Sharon. Anything at all to help and support them financially will be greatly appreciated and a mark of respect for this incredible woman/warrior, loving, devoted wife/mother and lifelong community activist, that was Sharon Nelson.

We are heartbroken that our friend Sharon has left us, we will keep her in our hearts forever.

Tá muid croí bhríste go bhfuil Sharon ar Slí na Firinne, coinneoidh muid í inar gcroíthe go deo.

Good bye, with love, our beautiful friend.

Slán & Grá Sharon, ár chara dilís.