570 people diagnosed with cancer every week, as cancer rates increase by 4 per cent over the last 3 years

Daffodil Day funds needed more than ever as demand for support and services increases The Irish Cancer Society and Dell launch Daffodil Day 2015 today at an event in Croke Park attended by hundreds of volunteers from across the country. Daffodil Day, supported by Dell, will take place on Friday March 27th 2015. This year marks the 28th Daffodil Day, Ireland’s longest running and biggest fundraising day. Today the Society announced a growth in cancer incidence that is sure to have a direct impact on its services – increasing the need for the public to support Daffodil Day so they can reach their fundraising target of €3.5 million for 2015.  Speaking at the launch of Daffodil Day, John McCormack, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Cancer Society said, “Every family in Ireland is touched by cancer, and these new figures confirm that cancer rates are growing. As cancer is increasing so are our efforts to fight it. As the national cancer charity we are working harder to ensure that every family in need of support has access to our services. To meet the increased demand for help as more people get and survive cancer we need to raise even more money this year on Daffodil Day.” Funds raised on Daffodil Day by thousands of volunteers across Ireland go directly to fund the work of the Society across support, prevention, research and advocacy. Night Nursing is one service funded by Daffodil Day. Last year the Society was able to fulfil 96 per cent of requests for a night nurse.  Seventy Five percent of cancer patients wish to die at home surrounded by family, yet only 25% get to do so. The Irish Cancer Society provides the only night time care service for cancer patients in their own homes. In 2014 the Society’s nurses provided 7,800 nights of care to over 1,670 patients and this service is fully funded by the people of Ireland who consistently support the work of the Society. Mr McCormack continued, “We won’t give up until every person affected by cancer has the support they need and we need the support of everyone in Ireland to make this possible. We know our volunteers won’t give up, we know Dell – our lead partner – won’t give up and we need every person in Ireland to join us in this fight. We still have some way to go to fully support patients who will die from their cancer. We won’t give up until we reach that future without cancer – and I know the Irish public won’t either.” It’s vital that Daffodil Day reaches its ambitious fundraising target of €3.5 million in order to continue to provide and expand this service and others. The Society and Dell, lead partner for Daffodil Day, are calling on the public to help support the campaign on Friday 27th March and ask people to volunteer, organise or donate on CallSave 1850 60 60 60 or visit www.cancer.ie/daffodilday. Also speaking at the launch, Liam Halpin, General Manager, Dell Ireland said, “Dell employs 2,300 people in Ireland and we have campuses in Cherrywood in Dublin, in Limerick and in Cork. Each and every one of these employees have joined the Daffodil Day volunteering army in one way or another and it’s been great to see the momentum across the three campuses grow over the years. This is our fifth year as lead partner of the Daffodil Day campaign. We’re looking forward to a great day of fundraising to ensure the continued services provided by the Irish Cancer Society to people around the country.” The Irish Cancer Society’s 28th Daffodil Day, supported by Dell, will take place across the country on Friday 27th March. Here is how you can support Daffodil Day 2015: 

  • Visit www.cancer.ie/daffodilday  or Callsave 1850 60 60 60
  • Volunteer on Daffodil Day 
  • Organise a Daffodil Day event in your community or workplace