About Peaks with a Purpose
Peaks with a Purpose is a charity hike organised by friends and colleagues, created to bring us together in memory of the late Sarah Eakin. This event honours Sarah’s courageous spirit and supports her family’s chosen charity Cancer Fund for Children, which provides life-changing care and support for children and families affected by cancer.
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Cancer touches all of us. 1 in 2 people will be affected by it in their lifetime. It doesn’t discriminate, and it’s rare to find someone whose life hasn’t been impacted by this disease, whether through personal diagnosis or the loss of a loved one. When cancer affects a child, the journey becomes even more heart-breaking.
By taking part in Peaks with a Purpose, you are helping us raise vital funds to support this incredible charity. One that brings light, hope, and practical support to families during their darkest days.
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Together, we walk for Sarah. We walk for the children. And we walk for a future with more healing, more hope, and more time.
"Thanks to you, we can help ensure children and young people don’t have to face cancer alone
We’re here for children and young people diagnosed with cancer, or living with a parent facing cancer."
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Cancer Funds for Children
In memory of Sarah Eakin
In June 2025, we were all deeply saddened at news of the passing of Sarah Eakin, a courageous and joyful 16-year-old, who lost her brave battle with leukaemia. Sarah passed away peacefully on 7th June at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children, surrounded by the love of her family.
Sarah was beloved by all who knew her. Renowned for her bubbly spirit, warmth, and incredible bravery. Her time at Dromore High School left a lasting impression, as she returned to classes in September 2024 after treatment eager to catch up academically and rejoin her peers. Teachers recall a young woman who “never made a fuss” about her illness, and who held onto her dream of completing her A‑levels until the end.
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Sarah had a zest for life. She played netball, rode horses, and cherished her German Shepherd, Holly. One of her happiest memories was attending her school formal, where she looked “absolutely stunning and so happy”.
At her funeral service in Scarva Street Presbyterian Church on 10th June, many gathered to celebrate a young life full of kindness, promise, and resilience. Her family, parents Geoff and Joanne, brother James, grandparents, and wider circle, remember her as “cherished,” “loved,” and “Forever Young”.
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Peaks with a Purpose is more than just a hike. It’s a tribute to Sarah’s life, her love of adventure, and her incredible bravery. By walking in her memory, we honour not just her name but the values she lived by: compassion, courage, and connection.
We invite you to join us in remembering Sarah — to walk the paths she loved, to celebrate the beauty she saw in the world, and to carry her spirit forward with every step we take.
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We also invite you to take part in this hike in memory of your own loved ones. Whether they have been lost to cancer, are currently facing it, or are supporting someone through it. Every step taken during Peaks with a Purpose is not only in remembrance of Sarah, but also in honour of all those whose lives have been touched by cancer. By walking together, we stand in solidarity, share our stories, and bring hope, strength, and compassion to one another.
Cancer treatment is frightening, challenging, and isolating and can devastate families emotionally, physically, and financially.
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For a diagnosed child, months of gruelling treatment and its side effects can impact their mental health, their education, and their friendships. This is also an extremely worrying time for siblings who can feel like the forgotten child as their parents focus their attention on their sick sibling.
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For many parents struggling to care for a child with cancer, whilst working and maintaining a family routine, a childhood cancer diagnosis can place an enormous strain on their relationships and their finances. Children who are struggling to cope with their parent’s cancer diagnosis life becomes full of fear and uncertainty, whilst their parents worry about how to talk to their children about cancer.
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At Cancer Fund for Children, we understand the devastating impact a cancer diagnosis and its treatment have on the whole family, and that beyond the essential medical care, there is a family life that needs to be rebuilt.
