Daffodil Day 2016 — Fighting the cancer epidemic in Offaly
As Daffodil Day 2016 approaches, cancer survivors and volunteers with the Irish Cancer Society are calling on the public to help fight the cancer epidemic we’re currently experiencing in Ireland. This year Daffodil Day, which is kindly supported by Dell, will take place across County Offaly on Friday, 11th of March 2016.
“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 over 100 people every day will hear those words ‘you have cancer’”.
In County Offaly 613 people were diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and this figure is increasing every year. This year Daffodil Day volunteers across County Offaly will be collecting to help provide free services for cancer patients to address this epidemic. These 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.
“As an independent charity, the Society raises 92% 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” according to Donal Buggy. “As we face into this cancer epidemic, together with our volunteers and supporters across County Offaly on Daffodil Day, we are determined to find ways to address the epidemic and the increasing demands for our services”.
In its 29 years Daffodil Day has raised €63.6M 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.
Niamh Townsend, General Manager at Dell Ireland, urged the public and other employers to support Daffodil Day 2016.
“As a flagship fundraiser, Daffodil Day is one of a kind. The country turns yellow to raise awareness and support all those fighting cancer. At Dell, all 2,500 of our team members in Ireland will be supporting Daffodil Day in some capacity – many have already given their time and skills through updating the Daffodil Day app and offering marketing and logistics support, while others will be taking to the streets as volunteer collectors. Dell has served as lead partner on Daffodil Day for the past six years and in that time we have witnessed the incredible generosity of the people of Ireland. Our campuses will become venues for a wide variety of fundraisers again this year and we are asking the public and other companies to join us in supporting the cause.”
“I am convinced that the amazing work of the Daffodil Day volunteers and the generosity of the public on Daffodil Day helped stop my cancer,” says survivor Stephanie Loughran. “Please support Daffodil Day this year to help stop cancer for more cancer patients like me”.
The public can support Daffodil Day by:
• Buying a daffodil from one of our volunteers in your community
• Donating online – www.cancer.ie
• Donating over the phone – CallSave 1850 60 60 60
• Texting Daff to 50300 to donate €4*
*(The Irish Cancer Society will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278)
At the Irish Cancer Society, We Won’t Give Up Until Cancer Does, and we ask you to support us this March 11th, and not give up either.
