X Factor’s Alexandra Burke sings at funeral of campaigner Donna Ballantyne

Jun 30 2011 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

FAMILY and friends bid farewell last weekend to a brave Bothwell woman who lost her battle with cancer.

Around 600 people attended the funeral service of Donna Ballantyne, who had blamed her use of sunbeds for her illness.

Donna was diagnosed with melanoma nine years ago and was told by doctors in 2007 that she had seen her last Christmas.

Family mourners included 39-year-old Donna’s husband James and her dad, Hamilton Palace nightclub boss James Mortimer.

Figures from football, business and politics also attended at Bothwell Parish Church last Saturday including Sir Alex Ferguson, Walter Smith, Alex McLeish, Sir Tom Hunter and Jim Murphy MP.

X Factor star Alexandra Burke sang at the service which was conducted by church minister the Rev Jim Gibson.

Since her diagnosis nine years ago, Donna has raised £1m for cancer charities.

Donna’s GP Gerry Murphy and cancer consultants Gerry Robertson and John Richards told mourners of Donna’s brave fight with her illness.

They praised her for setting up a charity and successfully raising money to help others.

Donna had started using sunbeds at the age of 16 and had used unmanned, coin-operated tanning booths until 22.

Two years before she died, Donna said: “If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t have spent even one second of my life on a sunbed.

“I am convinced that if I had never been near a sunbed I would not have been left fighting for my life after skin cancer spread around my body.”

She was diagnosed with the disease in 2002 and had a mark removed, but it returned four years later.

Donna also had intensive chemotherapy to try to shrink 19 tumours which had spread to her liver, stomach, leg and neck.

She was told the cancer was fatal and later received treatment in the States.

Her father James Mortimer said last week: “Donna blamed the sunbeds and so do I.

“If she was not spending time with her family, she would be working hard, advising young people to stay out of the sun and not use sunbeds.

“She was the bravest person we knew and so selfless. We are all devastated.”