The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Recovery Haven dream made real
LATE BRENDA’S VISION COMES TO LIFE WITH CANCER SERVICE IN KILLORGLIN
KILLORGLIN is ready to open its arms to an outreach cancer support service. And for the family of a Killorglin woman who died of cancer last year, it’s nothing less than a dream come true.
Brenda Macbeth passed away in May 2016, but her memory will live on thanks to her family and the monthly Recovery Haven Kerry morning support service set to open at Killorglin Community Day Care Centre.
Brenda began using Recovery Haven Kerry’s services following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, and as a ‘thank you’, she had planned a fundraising parachute jump for August 2015.
The return of her cancer shortly beforehand sadly put a halt to those plans, but it wasn’t enough to put a complete stop to her fundraising efforts. Her dream of bringing an outreach service to Killorglin was too vivid to be ignored.
As an avid music-lover, a night of ceol and craic in Sheahan’s, organised alongside friends and locals, gathered over €5,000, while further collaborations between Brenda and musicians brought about ‘For The Good Times’, a CD which proved a breathtaking success raising some €23,000.
Her son, Daniel, is overwhelmed that his mother’s dream is now set to be made a reality, and he recently returned from London to present the funds to a group loved by his mother.
“After my dear mum passed away, I doubted anything would come about from the fundraising and that the idea would prove too tall an order; but I will no longer doubt,” he said.
“The news of the Killorglin centre being opened and the thought of the care and support that will be shown to patients and families going through this disease is of utmost importance. That the funds raised in my mother’s name will give relief to the communities of Mid and South Kerry fills me with immense pride.”
On October 12, Recovery Haven management and members of the local community will celebrate the opening of the new drop-in support service, which will offer group therapies such as meditation, yoga and art therapy from 10am and 2pm on the second Thursday of each month.
The service is open to anyone affected by cancer, as well as their families and carers, with participants encouraged to stay on and meet with fellow service users for a hot drink afterwards.
“If they were to only attend the centre for a warm mug of tea and a biscuit, the centre will pose as a landmark for positivity and togetherness which, as shown by mum, are the two most important ingredients when trying to cope with adversity,” Daniel added, before going on to laud those who have helped bring his mother’s dream to life.
Further information can be obtained by phoning Recovery Haven Kerry at 0867038126.