Stars in selfie-awareness campaign to fight cancer
Irish celebs help launch digital pics fundraising effort
RTE stars Miriam O’callaghan and Evelyn O’rourke are leading a new campaign for cancer support.
Face Up To Cancer will see supporters “donating a selfie” to back Breast Cancer Ireland, Breakthrough Cancer Research and the Marie Keating Foundation.
The leading charities have joined forces for the first time ahead of World Cancer Day on Sunday, February 4.
They hope to raise significant funds for research and support services across Ireland, while also humanising what can be a hugely isolating experience for those diagnosed.
Prime Time host Miriam, 64, is ambassador for the campaign, having lost a sister aged just 33 to the disease, as is Newstalk presenter Bobby Kerr and RTE’S Evelyn O’rourke, 48, both of whom are survivors of cancer.
TV presenter Craig Doyle, 53, has also lent his support by voicing the campaign showreel, which Conor Ferguson, husband of the late Keelin Shanley, who
SELFIE SUPPORT Miriam, Evelyn & pals passed away from cancer in early 2020 aged 51, and Stephen Teap, who lost his wife Irene to cervical cancer in 2017, are also supporting.
Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland said at the launch: “We’re asking the people of Ireland to become part of this campaign, 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. 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.”
The campaign aims to put a face to cancer through portraits and to bring the country together through the simple act of “donating a selfie”.
The final resulting mosaics will be revealed across digital platforms when the campaign comes to a close next month.
In Ireland almost 42,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, which means one person is diagnosed every three minutes.
As a country we lose, on average, 9,874 people each year to the disease – which translates as one person every hour.
Orla Dolan, CEO of Breakthrough Cancer Research, added: “There are new discoveries and new ideas being developed every day to detect and save thousands of lives in Ireland that are simply awaiting funding.
“We’re asking the people of Ireland to be part of the future, to get involved in the Face Up To Cancer campaign, so we can ultimately help bring those future treatments to fruition.”
Liz Yeates, CEO 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.”
Go to www.faceuptocancer.ie, upload your selfie, then choose your donation. Then share your selfie across your social channels to show your support using #Faceuptocancer and #Donateaselfiesavelives.
United we are stronger than this disease
LIZ YEATES OF MARIE KEATING FOUNDATION