by Alan Jacques
1,529 people were diagnosed with cancer in County Limerick in 2013 and, according to the Irish Cancer Society, this figure is increasing every year.
1,529 people were diagnosed with cancer in County Limerick in 2013 and, according to the Irish Cancer Society, this figure is increasing every year.Daffodil Day 2016 takes place this Friday, March 11 and cancer survivors and volunteers with the Irish Cancer Society are calling on the public to help fight the cancer epidemic Ireland is currently experiencing.
Supported by Dell, Daffodil Day volunteers across Limerick city and county will be collecting this Friday to help provide free services for cancer patients to address this epidemic.
“The challenge this Daffodil Day is bigger than ever before,” said Donal Buggy, head of services at the Irish Cancer Society.
“The number of people getting cancer is increasing in Ireland with one in three people getting cancer in their lifetime. Cancer continues to visit almost every home in Ireland. The harsh reality is that we are experiencing a cancer epidemic, as this year alone more than 40,000 people will get cancer, this means that more than 100 people every day will hear those words ‘you have cancer’,” he added.
Services provided by the Irish Cancer Society are only made possible by donations on Daffodil Day. Services where patients are brought to their chemotherapy treatments; the Cancer Nurseline 1800 200 700 where people can get expert support and guidance; and where patients in the last days of their life are able to stay at home surrounded by the ones they love, cared for compassionately and with dignity by one of the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nurses.
In its 29 years Daffodil Day has raised €63.6 million which has directly supported tens of thousands of people affected by cancer, funded ground-breaking research, and helped improve the lives of those affected by cancer.
“As an independent charity, the Society raises 92 per cent of its income from donors and we rely almost entirely on the generosity of the Irish public to help us deliver our life-changing services. As we face into this cancer epidemic, together with our volunteers and supporters across Limerick city and county on Daffodil Day, we are determined to find ways to address the epidemic and the increasing demands for our services,” Mr Buggy concluded.
To support Daffodil Day you can donate online at www.cancer.ie or text ‘Daff’ to 50300 to donate €4.
