A year from the murder of Eleanor Mangion Walker, her mother Josephine is urging people to donate blood in memory of her daughter, a faithful donor for 13 years.

“Eleanor started donating blood every four months when her father passed away. During her life, she would encourage others to join her and donate blood, and now I would like to continue her cause by encouraging others to donate in her memory,” her mother Josephine Walker told this newspaper at her home in Swieqi.

Ms Mangion Walker’s body was found in a Qormi warehouse in July of last year. Her estranged husband has been arraigned and is pleading not guilty to murder.

Her mother spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta to call on those who are pondering over the thought of donating blood to follow Eleanor’s example.

Ms Walker’s husband, Michael John, had a rare blood type. He had fallen ill and promised that he would donate blood if he got any better. Sadly he passed away, but his daughters Eleanor and Beverly decided to start donating blood in his stead.

An emotional Ms Walker explained that she first thought of raising awareness about the importance of donating blood when she saw how much blood her daughter Eleanor had lost. She cannot donate blood herself because of her age.

Eleanor started donating blood every four months when her father passed away

Instead, she plans on raising awareness every July and will be leaving a visitor’s book at the blood donation unit in Guardamangia, where people who donate blood in memory of Eleanor can leave a message.

Ms Walker recounted how her daughter’s commitment to blood donation is one of the fondest memories that Ms Walker has of Eleanor, whose photos have been placed at every corner of her Swieqi home.

Pointing at a shelf laden with books, Ms Walker recalls her late daughter’s love of books, which had earned her the nickname “bookworm”.

Eleanor would carry books with her wherever she went – whether to ballet classes, to her bed at night or the bathroom. Her mother often found books wrapped up in her clothes when she was a child.

Ms Walker remembers that on the last day she spoke to her daughter, Eleanor had just put down a book she was reading.

“She approached me and complimented me on the wedding dress that I was working on. I will never forget the happy look on her face,” Ms Walker said.

Among others, Eleanor will be remembered for her artistic skills, with some of her artwork decorating her mother’s house.

Read: Andrew Mangion charged with murder of wife Eleanor Mangion Walker

Meanwhile, on July 2, family and friends will be walking along Triq Uqija in Swieqi, in her memory, at around 8.15am. At 9.30am, they will leave for Mass at the Ibraġġ Parish Church, which will be said at 9.45am.

The National Blood Transfusion Service centre, adjacent to St Luke’s Hospital, is open from Monday to Sunday between 8am and 6pm. To keep updated, look up National Blood Transfusion Service – Malta on Facebook or download the Blood Donors MT app, available on the App Store and Google Play.

Log on to https://health.gov.mt/en/nbts for more information.

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