Before I Die Wall (April 2026)

Our Cancer Champions team were delighted to host a ‘Before I Die Wall’ from 6th – 10th April specifically for the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community in our Foyle Centre.

For those who are unfamiliar, a ‘Before I Die Wall’ is a global public art project that invites people to complete the simple but powerful sentence: “Before I die I want to…”, encouraging people to reflect on their own mortality, and think about their hopes and aspirations, as tomorrow is never promised.

Over the course of the week, the ‘Before I Die Wall’ gradually filled with messages from LGBTQIA+ individuals, from both in-person and online submissions – some personal, others hopeful and reflective. What began as a blank wall quickly transformed into a colourful and emotional collective expression of hopes, dreams, and lived experiences.

Messages ranged from aspirations to share their art, travel and find love, to calls for equality and peace and some just wanting to spread joy to others. Many spoke to the importance of self-acceptance, making the most of life and simply just wanting to belong.

The wall created a gentle and welcoming space where people could drop-in, pause, and reflect about what truly matters to them, whether this was for a few quiet moments or some stayed for longer conversations. For some, it was an opportunity to express things they may have never said out loud before. It was incredibly heart-warming to see the response from people, with a common theme emerging around feeling seen and connected to the queer community.

Here are some examples of messages shared:

“Before I die I want to have my end of life plans and funeral wishes known and respected.”

“Before I die I want to see trans people celebrated for the wonder they are, everywhere.”

“Before I die I want to make art and fall in love.”

“Before I die I want to leave a better world behind me.”

“Before I die I want to see the LGBTQIA+ community accepted in our society and live in a world where they feel safe.”

“Before I die I want to transition.”

“Before I die I want to see elephants in the wild, find love and run a marathon.”

“Before I die I want to belong 😊.”

These are just a few examples, but we are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed. Each message helped build a collective picture of the hopes and aspirations within the local LGBTQIA+ community.

This project was kindly supported by Compassionate Communities NI, as they first brought this idea to the Foyle area.

Their Project Manager, Sharon Williams shared the following, “The ‘Before I Die Wall’ is an invitation to pause and check in with yourself. It asks: Are you still moving toward a life of purpose? Our time here is brief, but our legacy lives on. This interactive project offers a space to explore what truly matters to you. It is also an opportunity to check in with what matters most to other members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Taking time to reflect in this way not only fosters connection but also encourages a deeper understanding of ourselves and what we want. Conversations around death and dying can be challenging, but creating space for them helps normalise these discussions and supports people to consider and communicate their wishes.

For more information on Death, Dying, End of Life and Palliative Care and grief, please let us know.