Jean: Daffodil Day volunteer, Drogheda
Jean is one of the thousands of volunteers who donate their time each March helping to turn Ireland yellow on Daffodil Day. Drogheda is known for it's annual Daffodil Day celebrations and Jean talks about how important it is for everyone involved.
I felt I needed to do something to mark my husband’s passing.
Jean Coulter has been a volunteer for the past 8 years, when her husband’s passing inspired her to get involved with Daffodil Day.
“I felt that I needed to do something to mark his passing and also make it feel as if I was contributing for the future, for other people,” Jean, who is from Bettystown Co Louth, said.
It also gave her and her family a focus and a more positive outlook going forward.
Her favourite memory is still her first Daffodil Day where she encountered the spirit of the day and the camaraderie for the first time.
“I think the first year out on the street and I while I was still very raw from my loss, meeting every person who came along who had a similar or a worse story and the community feel, the camaraderie - everything. It just boosted everybody on that street and I thought 'wow this is like an army.' It was brilliant,” she said.
For Jean it is this community spirit and the importance of research and the progress being made in improving outcomes for people diagnosed with cancer that keeps her involved in Daffodil Day and why she would encourage others to get involved.
If you or someone in your life has been affected by cancer and would like to share your story, we would love to hear from you. Real stories help us to raise awareness about cancer so we can save more lives.
