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Jane Corscadden

Newtownabbey man pens song inspired by fiancée's strength during cancer battle

A Newtownabbey man has penned a heartfelt song inspired by the strength his fiancée has shown during her battle with cancer.

Stephen Conley's partner, Sharon Rooney, recently received the devastating news that the breast cancer she thought she had finally beaten had returned.

The mum-of-two from the Falls Road area of West Belfast travelled to Mexico for a month of treatment from August to September 2021, and had seven months in remission.

Read more: Belfast mum with cancer hopes treatment gives her more time with children

Prior to undergoing treatment, a Go Fund Me page explained that Sharon underwent a double mastectomy to further her chance of survival and be there for her children Grace, 14, and three-year-old Caiden.

However, the cancer has since returned and her partner Stephen, who has been a musician for the past 15 years, has dedicated his first single 'The One' to the strength she has shown over the past two years.

"If you were talking to her you wouldn't think there's anything wrong. I don't think I would be like that if I was going through the same thing," the Carnmoney man told Belfast Live.

Stephen and Sharon with Caiden and Grace (Stephen Conley)

"She went to Mexico for just over a month back in August to September, she got really good results after that and her follow-up went well. But back in February, she got pretty bad news. She's just back on treatments again now.

"She was clear for a good seven months and it's sadly starting to edge its way back. But she's still completely keeping an open mind about everything, just taking things one day at a time."

He said being able to write this song was a way to express how he was feeling.

The 30-year-old said: "I think when you have a lot of things in your head or on your chest you just need to get it off. I find just putting it into a song the perfect way to do that.

"The chorus of the song was inspired by Sharon. It only took me about 20 minutes to write. With everything going on, I've just been finding the writing process so easy.

Stephen has been playing in bands for the past 15 years (Stephen Conley)

"There's a couple of lines in it, it's called 'The One' which says it all. But wee lines like "I can see in your eyes the strength of surviving". It's a nice thing to be able to do, I can find it easier to say what I want to say in songs sometimes."

The couple are set to get married two weeks from now on April 29, with the ceremony to take place in St Mary's Church on Chapel Lane in Belfast, close to the cafe Stephen owns.

"We've been together for six years now, and we're really looking forward to it," Stephen said.

"I own a coffee shop in the city centre so we're getting married just around the corner from it in St Mary's, then having our reception in Carlingford, so it'll be nice to get out of the city and away from everything for a while."

The One is available now on streaming platforms including Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music.

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