The Irish Cancer Society is encouraging anyone affected by cancer in Donegal and who is in need of free counselling support to reach out for help.
The charity is doubling its funding for the service to more than €800,000 this year following successful Daffodil Day and Late Late Show fundraisers.
The Irish Cancer Society funded some 302 counselling sessions in Donegal in 2020, ensuring that the service was able to continue on a remote basis during the pandemic.
Counselling is available for children and adults, including family members as well as those directly impacted by a cancer diagnosis or who have lost loved ones to cancer. Whether your experience is recent or in the past the service is available to you.
Referrals for counselling sessions are available through the Society’s Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700 and SupportLine@IrishCancer.ie.
Cancer patients, survivors and those around them have had to deal with a huge amount during the pandemic including disruptions to treatments and services, social isolation and uncertainty around vaccinations. This has understandably taken its toll on people at a time when they are also dealing with a life-changing diagnosis.
Welcoming the increased funding commitment for counselling, Irish Cancer Society Director of Services Donal Buggy said: “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the public who responded to our Daffodil Day and Late Late Show fundraisers we are able to ensure that anyone affected by cancer who requires counselling can get the help they need.
“This has been a really challenging time for anyone affected by cancer, with some people isolated from their normal support network of family or friends.”
He concluded: “Each of our counsellors are very experienced at working with people affected by cancer. We want to tell people that it’s ok for them to take the first step and reach out, and any concerned family members or loved ones can do the same.”
