Donegal businesses have been urged to support cancer patients and their families by getting behind the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day on Friday, March 22.
The call comes to ensure as many patients as possible receive the help and support they need this year and to meet ever increasing demands for services such as counselling.
Former RTE newsreader Aengus MacGrianna, who lost his mother to cancer aged 11, is calling on businesses in Donegal to help the Irish Cancer Society.
“Losing mum to cancer was heart-breaking, especially as she was so young and we were still growing up. It was an extremely tough time.
“The Irish Cancer Society’s free counselling sessions for families affected by cancer didn’t exist when I was younger. This support, which is only available because of Daffodil Day donations, could be a lifeline for someone struggling with the impact of a diagnosis.
“Get your workplace involved on March 22 to ensure families like ours can receive free services and get the help they need to cope with a cancer diagnosis.”
Last year, with the help of Daffodil Day donations, 318 counselling sessions were provided to people from Donegal to help them deal with a cancer diagnosis.
This represents an 18% increase in the number of sessions provided in 2016. With cancer incidence on the rise, the Society expects even more people to seek counselling in 2019, a demand that can only be met if enough funds are raised on Daffodil Day.
Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society Averil Power said, “Because more people are getting cancer each year, not everyone is getting the care and support they need. We must do more to ensure we can support every cancer patient.
“With the help of local companies and supporters on Daffodil Day, cancer patients and their families can receive free counselling sessions across the country through our affiliated cancer support centres.
“To help deliver more care and support locally, and meet increasing demands, we are asking more companies to get involved in Daffodil Day this year.”
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