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Dr Julie McDonnell
UK News

Terminally ill Christian raises £7m in bell ringing challenge

Dr Julie McDonnell from Hastings, who is also living with brain and cervical cancer, has embarked on a bell ringing challenge which has gained support from the Pope and churches around the world.

Asked what a highlight of her Strike Back Against Blood Cancer challenge had been so far, the 49 year old told Premier: "For me personally, going to St Paul's Cathedral and actually going to the top of St Paul's Cathedral and physically watching the bells, I had tears coming down my cheeks..."

As well as encouraging churches to get involved, Julie hasn't shied away from joining in herself and has completed 151 quarter peal bell sequences at bell towers across the country.

Speaking about the comfort her faith has provided during her ill health, Julie said: "First of all, you get the diagnosis. Then, you're shocked. Then, you're upset. Then, you get angry.

"But actually my faith, as I am a Christian, it's been a huge part of being there for me, because you do feel very, very lonely.

"You feel like you're on your own [and] nobody else is going through it apart from yourself but, actually, you aren't on your own because, if you have faith like I do, you do take great comfort in the fact that there is something greater than yourself.

"God is there constantly for me. I'm very spiritual and I do believe there is more to life than myself. I do feel that, when I feel really down, it certainly helps me and it certainly helps my husband."

Click here to listen to Julie McDonnell speaking with Premier's Alex Williams:

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