Irish Cancer Society welcomes ‘Giving Tuesday’ and thanks supporters for helping to provide nationwide cancer services and research

The Irish Cancer Society, the national cancer charity, is welcoming ‘Giving Tuesday’ to Ireland, an initiative which is taking place for the first time on Tuesday, 2nd of December 2014. ‘Giving Tuesday’ was founded in the United States in 2012 as an antidote to the start of the festive shopping season which is often referred to as ‘Black Friday’.

‘Giving Tuesday’ is a day where charities recognise and thank their supporters while the supporters show their gratitude for the great work which the charities do all year round. This Giving Tuesday, the Irish Cancer Society is expressing its grateful appreciation to its volunteers and supporters who help the Society to continue its vital work. The Society is giving support to cancer patients every day of the year through a number of services:

  • Care to Drive volunteers are giving cancer patients a lift to and from their chemotherapy appointments in hospitals.
     
  • Night Nurses are giving nursing care to cancer patients at the end of their cancer journey in their own homes during the night.
     
  • Cancer Information Services Nurses on the National Cancer Helpline Freefone 1800 200 700 are giving information and support to anyone concerned about cancer.
     
  • Daffodil Centres Nurses are giving care and advice to cancer patients and their families in 12 Daffodil Centres in hospitals across the country.
     
  • The Irish Cancer Society is not giving up until cancer does. As the leading voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland, Irish Cancer Society researchers are looking to find better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer which will lead to better patient outcomes.
     
  • Fundraising volunteers are giving their time and skills to support fundraising campaigns in aid of the Society and to work in the Society’s network of shops, ensuring the continued provision of the Society’s services for cancer patients.

Mark Mellett, Head of Fundraising at the Irish Cancer Society said: “This ‘Giving Tuesday’, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the thousands of Irish Cancer Society supporters and volunteers nationwide who ensure that the Irish Cancer Society can continue to provide vital cancer services to cancer patients and their families as well as fund vital collaborative cancer research. As an independent charity, receiving less than five per cent of Government funding, we could not do the work which we do without the loyal support of the public. We welcome the introduction of ‘Giving Tuesday’ in Ireland which gives us all an opportunity to take a break from all the Christmas shopping and to take a moment to thank those who are giving so much all year round.”

To find out more about the Irish Cancer Society’s work or to donate, visit www.cancer.ie or call 1850 60 60 60. For further information on Giving Tuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.ie. You can support the Irish Cancer Society on Giving Tuesday via social media (www.facebook.com/IrishCancerSociety /@Irishcancersoc) using the hashtag #GivingTuesdayIreland.