HOW YOU CAN STILL HELP DAFFODIL DAY

MY late mother Nuala got breast cancer when she was 49, but it was caught very early. She had a mastectomy, but needed no follow-up chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The cancer never returned and she lived to almost 80. But I well remember the terror I and the rest of the family felt as we contemplated losing her, and it’s a terror few families in Ireland have avoided. For years, my mother stood out in all weathers collecting for the Irish Cancer Society on Daffodil Day, which this year has been cancelled. It’s a great charity, and its fundraising efforts have always been very well supported, but the March 27 collection day is another victim of the coronavirus outbreak. You still can help, though, and donate €4 by texting the word CANCER to 50300. I did so this week in memory of Nuala, with boundless gratitude for all the extra years we shared.