After more than a year of battling with cervical cancer, former national athletics team member and top sprinter Marife Suanque, 39, passed away, Thursday night, 10 p.m. at Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City.

The Negros Occidental Track and Field Association, was supposed to hold a “Walk-for-a-Cause” today to help raise funds for her medical treatment.

Suanque was diagnosed of cervical cancer (stage 1B) June last year and underwent an operation in Cebu last July 5. She had been undergoing chemotheraphy sessions and was brought to RMC Monday due to her unstable condition.

A single parent, Suanque is survived by her five children, the youngest being eight years old.

The late national athlete was a multi-medalled sprinter, who won gold medals for Negros Occidental and Western Visayas in the Palarong Pambansa.

She won five gold medals in Pampanga and broke two national records in the 200m and 400m events in 1990.

Suanque was a former member of the University of St. La Salle athletics varsity team and served as member of the athletics coaching staff.

She was teaching Physical Education at Bacolod City National High School when she was diagnosed with cancer.*NAB

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Suanque passes away