It is not often you'll see a bright pink horsebox driving around Belfast - but it's Sean Smyth's hope that he attracts the attention of as many people as possible, in memory of his daughter.
Eimear Smyth had stage two Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, and after finding a stem cell donor match, the Coolnasilla woman underwent a transplant in November 2018. She passed away on June 27, 2019 after complications - at the age of 25.
Remembered fondly by family and friends as a positive young woman with a love for donuts and coffee, Eimear's legacy has lived on through the charity Eimear's Wish. Her dying wish was for her family to let the world know she had beat cancer and that cancer didn't kill her, for her dad Sean to get as many people as possible to join the stem cell donor register in Northern Ireland and to raise some money for local charities. Sean has been fulfilling those wishes since the loss of his child.
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Sean and the Eimear's Wish team, will now be attending events across Northern Ireland, providing popcorn, slush puppies and coffee free of charge. They're now trained by Anthony Nolan, so can help people join the stem cell register while they wait for their free treats.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Sean said: "I always looked at coffee shops and thought 'what if we done one for Eimear? Maybe as a fundraiser. I was talking to a friend who encouraged me to do it and I seen a horsebox and I just got it.
"The idea developed - it is not a business and we don't sell anything, we give it all away. Whether it is a school event, sports club, flute band competition, we can be there with a week's notice. I have my own job, Monday to Friday, and there is not enough days in the week because I could be out every single day doing the horsebox.
"We are delighted to be able to let people know that we have now teamed up with Anthony Nolan and we no longer go round Northern Ireland raising awareness, we now actually recruit on the day. Anthony Nolan trained us, showed us how to do the swabs. We have back up kits and barcodes, so that at short notice, we can be anywhere.
"You get your swab kit, scan it on your phone, fill in your details and swab your two cheeks and pop it back in an envelope - that's it. You can do that, have a cup of coffee or a slush puppy, and then you're out of here.
"We would love to go to any event that is interested in what we are doing. We need about an hour to set up, but would love to hear from anyone, if there is young people there, aged 16-30, we can be there and would love to be there. Young men are so important to this organisation because they produce more stem cells and stronger stem cells. They only make up 18% of the stem cell register with Anthony Nolan.
"This Saturday, we have the big day out for Belfast Pride - we will be there. We don't care your sexuality, we just want to hear from people who have general good health, and would like to learn more and hopefully sign up to become a donor. Let's have a chat, get you signed up, and potentially you could save a life.
"We'll also be at Féile an Phobail and on the Sunday for the 10K, we'll be at the start and finish lines to give the runners a bit of a lift. We're really looking forward to that. Then on August 13, we will be at St Bronagh's in Warrenpoint, with the Do it for Daniel team.
"I have to say, my employer, Unite the Union, have been incredible. From the first day that Eimear took ill on September 15, 2016, they have been unbelievable. We would be stranded without their support. They really are supporting the community and even two weeks ago, they gave us their offices on a Saturday afternoon to train people. If not, we would have had to pay to hire a hall or a hotel. Unite didn't hesitate."
Unite the Union regional secretary Jackie Pollock, told Belfast Live they are proud to support Sean's efforts to promote the donation of stem cells.
"The premature loss of a loved one is something that almost every one of us will experience in our lifetimes," he added.
"When that person is young or your child, with their entire life ahead of them, as it was with Eimear Smith, it is a genuine tragedy. Eimear’s passing was felt personally by many in our union. Her father played, and continues to play, an active role as a Unite the union activist and official.
"Eimear was a regular visitor to our offices and many of us recall her young, hopefulness and bravery as she faced a life threatening illness and received treatment. Sadly Eimear lost her fight for life but her spirit continues to inspire and encourage. Her father Sean responded to this tragedy by channelling his energies into powerful campaigning efforts to encourage people to become stem cell donors.
"Unite is proud to be able to support Sean’s worthy efforts to promote donation of stem cells. We encourage our members and the wider public to support his latest initiative, the pink horse box, and register as a stem cell donor. Everyone of us has the capacity to donate the building blocks of live to another. It is an act of social solidarity in the best traditions of the trade union movement."
To sign the register to potentially give someone a second chance at life or to find out more, visit Anthony Nolan or Eimear's Wish.
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