Donate daffodils to pop up shop
EVERY three minutes a person in Ireland receives a cancer diagnosis. In Sligo, 562 people received a cancer diagnosis over a 12 month period.
The Irish Cancer Society relies heavily on donations with 98 percent coming from the public and 2 percent from the State. Since 1988, Daffodil Day has become an annual vital fundraiser involving communities all across Ireland who come together to support cancer patients and their families.
Sligo people have helped raised € 66 million over the last three decades funding vital services for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by cancer. In 2016, more than € 26,000 was raised in Sligo as part of the annual Daffodil Day.
Wilfred Bourke, Co- ordinator of Daffodil Day in Sligo Town and county is encouraging everyone to become involved: “All money raised on Daffodil Day helps provide essential services such as night nursing for patients at end of life, counselling to help people cope with a cancer diagnosis in their lives and patient transport to help people attend lifesaving treatment.”
There are more than 80 volunteers in Sligo and many of them like Wilfred joined as a way to ‘ give back’ to the community. Last year over 8,000 nights of nursing care were provided to cancer patients across Ireland in 2016. In Sligo, 151 nights of care were provided to 32 patients allowing them to remain at home during their final days. Explaining why the service is so important Irish Cancer society night nurse, Carmel Clarke said: “When I go into a patient’s home I try to bring a sense of calmness, sensitivity, kindness and understanding with caring and comfort for the patients. The relief and reassurance expressed by families in the knowledge that their loved one is comfortable is evident of the invaluable service of Night Nursing. It is a privilege and honour to be with a patient and family at such a precious time and funds raised on Daffodil Day allow me to do this.”
Six in 10 cancer patients survive cancer compared to just three in 10 fifty years ago, Dr Robert O’Connor Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society credits the hard work of the volunteers and the public’s generous contributions for the continued investment to allow vital cancer research:
“Researchers won’t stop until 10 in 10 cancer patients survive their diagnosis, but the race to stop cancer is a marathon not a sprint. We have invested € 20 million in vital cancer research since 2010. This is all thanks to the people in Sligo who continue to work through events like Daffodil day. Without you, our research scientists would not be able to play a vital role in the global fight to stop cancer.”
This Daffodil Day on Friday March 24th, Sligo people can donate their own fresh Daffodils to the pop up centre in Wine Street Car Park from 8.30- 6.30pm. Make a donation online or phone Call save: 1850 60 60 60