Daffodil Day 2022 Enniscorthy recap – Catherine Dunleavy

Our Daffodil Day preparations began with the announcement of the launch date in January for Daffodil Day. All six of us ladies on our committee do our best to attend the launch as it is our opportunity to meet volunteers from all parts of the country and to hear the inspirational cancer survivors tell their stories. We are always reminded of how important the annual Daffodil Day is and how important our little contribution is. 

We ordered our merchandise and then divided this between our six shop locations where we had two volunteers stationed every hour from 08.30 to 18.30 on Daffodil Day. We had a list of about 100 volunteers to cover all locations. We also distributed about 60 counter collection boxes to a variety of businesses around the Enniscorthy area. The evening before Daffodil Day we accepted donations of fresh daffodils which we then wrapped in bundles of seven ready for the following morning.

On the morning itself we were all up early and set up our stations across our six locations. We are always in high spirits as are our volunteers who turn up early eager to do their bit.  People are so generous with their donations and they also like to tell their personal cancer story.

Our day flew by and we restocked all collection stations as needed throughout the day.  Everyone is smiling on Daffodil Day and donors always say how happy they are that it’s here again.  We are always being told what a good cause it is. At the end of the long day all six of us agreed that we are looking forward to next year again.

Being part of Daffodil Day gives all of us volunteers way more than any work we put into it. Seeing the same people come back every year, some of them for 25 years, to volunteer on Daffodil Day makes everyone realise that we are part of a great fundraising event. Two of our volunteers who have been with Daffodil Day for over 25 years retired this year, and deservedly so as they are both now in their late eighties. We say thank you Josie and Breda.  

Every year since we started organising Daffodil Day we have increased the amount of money raised, and in the seven years we have helped to raise around €80,000. 

We feel proud of our part in this, and, more importantly, determined to do better next year.