Irish Cancer Society’s Colour Dash sponsored by Aldi is back!

A dash of colour in support of Ireland’s cancer patients: Irish Cancer Society’s Colour Dash sponsored by Aldi is back!

Irish Cancer Society’s Colour Dash is back due to popular demand so get ready to inject some colour into your summer for a great cause! Sponsored by Aldi, Ireland’s most colourful 5K event returns for the fifth year in a row, with all money raised used to support cancer patients and to fund vital cancer research.

Colour Dash takes place in four locations this year:

• Sligo – Doorly Park – Sunday, 28th May
• Dublin – Phoenix Park – Sunday 11th June
• Galway – NUIG – Sunday 18th June
• Cork – Pairc Ui Chaoimh – Sunday 25th June

Sign up fast at cancer.ie/colourdash as spaces for each Colour Dash are limited and expected to sell out again this year.

The Colour Dash is a five kilometre fun run open to all ages and abilities. At each kilometre, a different colour of powder paint is thrown at participants as they run, walk or dance their way to the finish line. The first kilometre is yellow to represent lung cancer, the green kilometre represents bowel cancer, the third kilometre is purple and represents cancer survivorship, while the blue and pink kilometres signify prostate cancer and breast cancer respectively.

[[{"fid":"3961","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Colours of the Colour Dash","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Colours of the Colour Dash","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Colours of the Colour Dash","style":"height: 193px; width: 450px;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]

This year marks the fifth year of Colour Dash and to date more than 17,000 people have participated in the vibrant event with tonnes of colourful powder paint thrown on ‘dashers’.

The Colour Dash supports the Irish Cancer Society’s free cancer services for cancer patients and their families across the country. Every three minutes someone in Ireland gets a cancer diagnosis and tragically, one person dies every hour from cancer.

Money raised from Colour Dash supports cancer patients on every step of their cancer journey, as well as funding vital cancer research to find better ways of treating and diagnosing cancer. The Society has spent €20m on cancer research since 2010, which has enabled important Irish research breakthroughs such as a recent discovery made by BREAST-PREDICT, an Irish Cancer Society Collaborative Cancer Research Centre.

Researchers found that a new drug can prevent the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells. If found to be successful in clinical trials, the drug (APR-246) has the potential to save lives of patients with a form of breast cancer which is currently difficult to treat.

John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society said: “Cancer research is our most powerful weapon against cancer. While cancer incidence in Ireland is rising, more people are now surviving cancer than ever before, six out of ten compared to four out of ten, twenty years ago. Colour Dash is a fantastic opportunity for families in Ireland to enjoy a fun day out, while helping the 40,000 people who will get a cancer diagnosis this year. Do the 5km dash amidst an explosion of colour and fun, and help provide vital support for those on that cancer journey. We look forward to welcoming a colourful army to our Colour Dash events in Sligo, Dublin, Galway and Cork this year.”

The Irish Cancer Society is one of several charities to benefit from Aldi Ireland’s community support programme since 2016. It was specifically chosen by Aldi staff in a company-wide poll because so many staff knew people affected by cancer and wanted to help. Through a combination of sponsorship, a staff ‘Bric a Brac’ collection, staff donations, Colour Dash entry fees and sales of Daffodil Day daffodils and charity cards at Aldi’s stores, Aldi and its staff have raised over €175,000 for the Irish Cancer Society since 2016.

Commenting, Aldi Ireland’s Group Buying Director Finbar McCarthy said: "Aldi is very proud to partner with the Irish Cancer Society and support the Colour Dash for a second year running. It’s a superb event for a cause that is close to the hearts of our customers and staff. Staff across our 128 Irish stores are gearing up to make this year’s Colour Dash a success, having already raised over €175,000 to help provide valuable services for people affected by cancer. We look forward to seeing the Aldi teams and supporters out in force around the country for this great initiative.”

Each Colour Dash event is 5km of fun and colour, with entertainment provided on the day. Registration is €30 per person, and €5 for children under 12.

Visit www.cancer.ie/colourdash to register or Callsave 1850 60 60 60.

The Irish Cancer Society’s Colour Dash is sponsored by Aldi. Supported by Spin 103.8, iRadio and Red FM.