Tribute paid to Inverness woman who fought cancer and campaigned with Marie Curie charity against end-of-life poverty
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A leading UK charity has paid a warm tribute to a selfless and courageous Inverness woman who battled cancer while campaigning against end-of-life poverty.
Much-loved wife and mum Melanie Finlay, from Castle Heather, lost her life earlier this month.
A celebration of her life was held for friends and family on Sunday this week.at the William T Fraser & Son funeral home on Culduthel Road.
Marie Curie’s James Rippingale called her “unflinchingly committed” to the charity’s aims, while displaying “a relentless sense of humour in the face of all odds”.
After being diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer which spread throughout her body, Mrs Finlay (49) was given 12-18 months to live early last year.
She passed away on April 6, leaving husband Tom (43) and only child Joseph (8).
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The former Police Scotland firearms licensing administrator battled financial hardship while living on benefits in her final months.
While planning her own funeral and helping prepare Tom and Joseph for life without her, she also went to great efforts to help Marie Curie.
A big focus of her energies was raising awareness of how poverty can afflict the terminally ill in their final weeks and months.
Mr Rippingale built up a close working relationship with Mrs Finlay from early last year after initial contact on social media.
He said: “I called her and interviewed her, which lasted a few hours. We ended up chatting about all sorts of stuff.
“Work-wise, we kept in touch over the phone with me calling her regarding our poverty campaign and media work we were doing around it which I thought she might be interested in – which she always was.
“We also kept in touch via text and occasional phone calls, with me checking in with her to see how she was doing and feeling throughout the latter stages of her illness.
“Melanie was unflinchingly committed to our poverty campaign, calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to take urgent, targeted action to protect vulnerable families affected by terminal illness from the cost-of-living crisis.
“Her witty and warm voice, combined with the no-nonsense way she spoke about her personal experiences, helped illuminate the injustice many face at the end of their lives, galvanising support that ran from homes across the United Kingdom to the upper reaches of the Scottish parliament.
“I shall greatly miss collaborating with her, our chats, and her relentless sense of humour in the face of all odds.”
