BROADCASTERS UNITE TO FIGHT CANCER
THREE of Ireland’s leading cancer charities have joined forces before World Cancer Day to launch a new fundraising campaign.
Breast Cancer Ireland, Breakthrough Cancer Research and the Marie Keating Foundation are behind Face Up To Cancer, a digital fundraising initiative which hopes thousands of people will upload selfies and donate at www.faceuptocancer.ie to fund further research. Sadly, almost 42,000 cancer cases are diagnosed in Ireland annually, while almost 10,000 people die from the disease every year, which is an average of one person every hour. The campaign is being led by TV presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, who lost a sister, aged just 33, to cancer.
She is joined by RTÉ colleague Evelyn O’Rourke and Newstalk’s Bobby Kerr, who have both survived cancer.
Breast Cancer Ireland’s Aisling Hurley said: ‘We’re asking the people of Ireland to become part of the Face Up To Cancer story, helping us to collectively fight this disease through world-class research and development of new treatments and drug therapies.
‘Long-term survival from cancer has greatly increased and, overall, Ireland is making good progress in terms of survival improvements for all cancers, but we still need to continue our investment in order to change the landscape positively for those diagnosed and transform this illness into a treatable illness for all of those impacted.’
Liz Yeates, of the Marie Keating Foundation, added: ‘By standing together, and through our collective efforts, we not only raise funds but we also raise hope.
‘Together, we can make a difference and redefine the future of cancer care. Let’s face up to cancer together, because united, we are stronger than this disease.’