The Irish Cancer Society appeals for Church Gate volunteers as demand for free patient services continues to grow

Have you got extra time on your hands and want to do something for a worthwhile cause? The Irish Cancer Society is putting out an urgent call for Church Gate volunteers to help maintain and grow its free nationwide nursing and cancer information services. (A list of locations and dates of collections which need volunteers is below.)

In 2009, a remarkable €635,000 was collected outside church gates by volunteers from across the county. The funds raised through Church Gate collections are essential if the Society is to continue to provide its vital range of free nationwide patient care services.

These services include the provision of free direct patient care services for people with cancer and their families, financial aid to cancer patients and the provision of a nationwide night nursing service. In 2009, the Society provided over 5,300 nights of care to 1,400 families.

In addition the Irish Cancer Society provides the flagship Cancer Information Service which includes the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700). This valued and trusted source of expert information is staffed by nurses trained in cancer care who offer advice, information and support to anyone worried about any aspect of cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment by telephone, by email (helpline@irishcancer.ie), by live chat on line (www.cancer.ie/chat) or by face to face meetings at our HQ in Dublin. In 2009, the Cancer Information Service looked after approximately 15,000 enquiries.

The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) estimates that up to 30,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer during 2010 and new cases of cancer are expected to reach over 43,000 new cases in the year 2020. Cancer will affect one in three of us during the course of our lifetime and one in four of us will die from the disease.

So please get involved! It’s very easy to organise a churchgate collection and your contribution will help us to improve the lives of people affected by cancer in your community.

To volunteer please CallSave the Irish Cancer Society Fundraising Department on 1850 60 60 60 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm).

Collection dates and locations

Date: 19 Jul 2010