Mairead Ronan asks public to get their cups out for a good cause
Radio and TV presenter Mairead Ronan is asking the nation to brew up a storm to fund vital services to support people with breast cancer
Mairead, who lost her mum to breast cancer just before she turned 21, is urging people to host a Cups Against Breast Cancer coffee morning this October to support those affected by the disease. Every year over 3,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland.
Mairead said, “Losing mum was very tough, and there are still days when I feel her loss so strongly. Cancer treatment is very difficult, both emotionally and physically. I witnessed first-hand what mum went through, what thousands of people face each day. This October 11th you can take a simple action to support anyone facing breast cancer. Host a Cups Against Breast Cancer coffee morning and raise crucial funds to ensure the Irish Cancer Society can continue to fund lifesaving research and free supports for those in need.”
Mairead was joined by two breast cancer survivors Dianne Fitzharris Doyle and Mary Canavan, who both were diagnosed during pregnancy. Mary was seven weeks pregnant with her first child when she received the shocking diagnosis, while Dianne was 19 weeks pregnant with her second child conceived through IVF. Both women relied on the Irish Cancer Society’s Cancer Nurses for support.
Cancer Nurses in the Society’s 13 Daffodil Centres, and on the Freephone Cancer Nurseline, provide information, advice and emotional support to anyone affected by cancer. Last year the Cancer Nurses handled almost 3,000 enquires from breast cancer patients in need of support.
Dianne said, “I used the Nurseline and Daffodil Centre a couple of times during my chemo for advice on diet and side effects. I found the support and advice invaluable as the Cancer Nurses understood exactly what I was going through. Family and friends were fantastic too, but they just didn't have the knowledge of what I had to endure on a day to day basis during treatment. I felt less alone in my illness each time I spoke to them.”
Mary added, “I was terrified about the disease but also about the effects of chemotherapy on my baby. It was a very frightening time, with many unknowns. It was difficult for my husband too, watching on as I went through cancer while expecting our precious little boy, but he found great comfort in the Nurseline. The Nurses gave him great advice and a listening ear when he needed it most.”
Averil Power, Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society said, “Every day in Ireland eight people get a breast cancer diagnosis. We know that diagnosis can turn your world upside down. That’s why our Cancer Nurses are there to provide care and support to cancer patients when they need it most. But without donations we simply can’t help everyone. We saw a growing number of breast cancer patients reach out to us for support last year. We are determined to keep up with this demand but to do this we need to raise more money. That’s why we are asking the public to hold a Cups Against Breast Cancer Coffee morning on October 11th to ensure we can continue to be there for those in need.”
For more information on hosting a coffee morning go to www.cancer.ie/cupsagainstbreastcancer
