Janice Allan: A remarkable woman and an inspirational fundraiser

She raised huge sums for organisations and individuals in town and abroad - taking part on several incredible treks in Jordan and Uganda.

Janice, 64, passed away at Victoria Hospice, on Friday, May 7, after a long illness.

Together with her husband Billy she ran a taxi business in town, and was renowned for her big heart which saw her go out of her way to organise, support and fundraise for so many organisations.

She made such a difference to the lives of so many - and made many, many friends along the way.

She took part in a trek in Jordan and became great pals with former Eastenders actress, Charlie Brooks, who was also part of the expedition.

They shared more laughs at trek reunions - some of the first tributes came from her fellow Jordanian walkers who recalled the impact she made.

Janice was such an inspiration on that adventure, she was awarded the title of ‘queen of the trek.’

Janice also joined Bob’s Walk, which netted a huge sum for our own Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre - walking the length of Fife Coastal Path.

She was the heart and soul of the 10-day trek which spanned around 130 miles from Maggie’s at the Western General in Edinburgh to Maggie’s in Dundee.

Her enthusiasm and encouragement kept everyone going - she was simply a force of nature.

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Janice also made two journeys to Uganda as part of the Dream Challenges initiative which helps hundreds of children get an education.

The journey was made possible thanks to Janice’s huge fundraising efforts in Fife.

Even a dreadful fall, which left her with a broken leg and having to be carried for miles back to base, didn’t dampen her spirits - Janice returned again in 2017, aged 60, after another mammoth fundraising effort, and joined a team of 20 volunteers who spent 10 days living and working with natives in the village of Nkuringo, high in the mountainous region inhabited by the country’s gorillas.

There, she worked with members of the local HIV and women’s groups and spent a day with the Batwa pygmies on their reserve in the jungle.

She was also reunited with Constance, a young girl whose schooling she sponsored.

Janice’s drive and enthusiasm drove countless other fundraisers - whenever someone needed help, she was there.

Her efforts saw countless items dispatched to help youngsters and families thousands of miles away.

In the hundreds of social media tributes posted so far, Janice was remembered as one of the kindest, most genuine person - an inspiration and an exceptional woman with an incredible zest for life.

She was also at the very heart of her large family - a mum to three, Nicole, William and the late Austin; grandmother to 11, and a great-grandmother to two, and a loving sister of Andrew and Margo … and a dear friend to so many.

Her funeral will be private due to current lockdown restrictions.

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