2 February 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Munster Launch of The Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day took place on Saturday the 30thJanuary, 2016 at Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire, Co. Cork.
In attendance was the Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Chris O’ Leary and his wife Angela O’Leary together with the Mayor of County Cork, John Paul O’ Shea. The event was launched by Emma Farmer and Jessica O’ Shea, members of the Cork senior team who won the 2015 All Ireland Ladies Football championship.
Daffodil Day this year is on the 11th March, 2016 and the Society appealed to the public for their continued support so that all their services can continue to operate for cancer patients nationwide. They reiterated that 95% of the Society’s funding is received from voluntary collections and there are ever increasing demands on the valuable services provided.
Jess O’Shea and Emma Farmer, Cork Ladies GAA with Angela O’Leary and her husband Lord Mayor Cllr Chris O’Leary at the launch for the Irish Cancer Society’s Cork Daffodil Day in the Vienne Woods Hotel. Daffodil Day takes place nationally on the 11th of March.
Pic: Darragh Kane
Speaking at the launch Mark Mellett, Head of Fundraising of the Society said:
“Every family in Ireland is touched by cancer, it is startling to think of how prevalent cancer is and how many families are impacted by those three words – you have cancer. Thankfully our network of volunteers are coming together once again to ensure that Daffodil Day is a success and that we can continue to fund our nationwide services – like night nursing. As cancer is increasing so are our efforts to fight it. As the national cancer charity we are working hard to meet the increased demand for help as more people get and survive cancer we need to raise even more money this year on Daffodil Day.”
Eileen Kearney, Munster Community Fundraiser went on to say:
“Now more than ever we need the support of everyone in Cork and Munster to make this year our most successful Daffodil Day yet. We need people to support our volunteers on the 11th March and buy daffodils. We need every person in Ireland to join us in this fight. We still have some way to go to fully support patients who will die from their cancer. We won’t give up until we reach that future without cancer and I know the Irish public won’t either.”
Also in attendance at the launch were the many volunteers in Munster who organise Daffodil Day, many of whom have been volunteering for over two decades together with volunteers who provide advice at the Daffodil Centres, volunteers within the Prevent service and the Volunteer to Drive service providers. This annual launch allows the Society meet up with its grassroots volunteers, who do such valuable work for the Society. The main sponsors of Daffodil Day, Dell were also in attendance.
For further details on the service provided by the Irish Cancer Society please visit www.cancer.ie.
