Rachel delighted with response
BREAST cancer Ireland is a relatively new charity established in 2014 with the ultimate aim of transforming breast cancer from often being a fatal disease into a treatable long term illness.
Rachel Fitzgearld Feeley is the face of the Charity in the North West and travels across the region bringing her informative talks to women of all ages.
She is delighted with the response to her information and education programme and says the schools in particular have been very supportive.
“I am amazed at the sensitivity of the students in the schools around Sligo. The personal experience makes it very real for them,” she says.
And Rachel has so many stories to tell. “When I left the hospital after my first breast cancer surgery I remember leaving the hospital feeling very different,” she says, admitting that she also felt a loss of femininity.
“I lost my hair which had been long and wavy. My Dad and my brother shaved my hair one day which was better than it falling out in chunks.
“I bought a wig as similar to my natural hair as I could but in truth I only wore it a handful of times as I was too sick from the chemotherapy and it was so warm.”
Some students have been so moved by the presentation that they have gone on to raise money for Breast Cancer Ireland.
“A group of student in St. Attracta’s School in Tubbercurry held a talent show and donated €250 of the proceeds to the charity. This followed my visit to the school. It is really encouraging to see,” says Rachel.
The breast cancer survivor who works as an outreach coordinator believes the accounts of her own battle with cancer resonate the most with the audiences.
Student Kelly Doyle said: “Rachel brought along mannequins with her to our talk. She used the mannequins to get across what it is like to find a lump in your breast. I thought that this talk we had on Breast Cancer was the best talk we had all year.”
Rachel also hope to host a number of information stands for the public in local pharmacies in the coming weeks.