"Our Company Cares" Daffodil Day appeal launched

Irish Cancer Society with support from Dell appeal to companies to show they ‘care’ this March as they launch ‘Our Company Cares’ as part of Daffodil Day 2013

The Irish Cancer Society with the help of Dell launched the Irish Cancer Society’s corporate fundraising initiative ‘Our Company Cares’ as part of the Society’s annual Dell supported Daffodil Day campaign. This year Daffodil Day, supported by Dell, takes place across the country on Friday 22nd March.

The Society, and Dell, lead partners for Daffodil Day, are encouraging employees in businesses and organisations across the country to think of creative and fun ways of raising funds in their workplace throughout March. Activities can include organising cake sales and coffee mornings, turning workplaces yellow, desk cleaning amongst others.

Funds raised through ‘Our Company Cares’ will go directly to providing free cancer information and nursing services. This includes the Society’s hospital based Daffodil Centres which make it even easier for those with, and affected by, cancer to access the information and support they need. Last year the Society’s Cancer Information Service reached over 200,000 people in Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Our Company Cares’, John McCormack, CEO, Irish Cancer Society said, “The pressure and demand for our services is increasing year on year especially in the wake of ever increasing cancer numbers. Latest data shows that approximately 30,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Ireland in 2011 and cancer will affect one in three of us during our lifetime.

Corporate partnerships and employee fundraising activities help to make a real and significant impact on the Irish Cancer Society’s ability to continue to provide services and support to people affected by cancer in Ireland. We are very grateful for the support given by employees throughout every level of an organisation and the innovative and creative ways they are prepared to go to in order to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.”

The overall target for Daffodil Day 2013 has been set at €3.4million. The challenge this year is to recruit at least 200 companies, to take part in the ‘Our Company Cares’ campaign.

Speaking today Caroline Grant, HR Director, Dell Ireland said: “As the official partners of Daffodil Day we really embrace the ‘Our Company Cares’ part of the campaign. Last year, the company went ‘Daffodil’ crazy for three months in the build-up to the big day. We helped to make Daffodils, we baked daffodil cakes, we sold daffodils and we wore yellow! ‘Our Company Cares’ is a great initiative and I hope companies around the country will support this year’s Daffodil Day campaign as much as they can.”

In 2010 Dell Ireland became the Irish cancer Society’s lead partner for Daffodil Day for a three year period until 2013. In addition to providing financial support Dell’s 2,500 employees are supporting the campaign by volunteering time and expertise to the Irish Cancer Society in the lead up to Daffodil Day and on the day itself.

If you would like further details on how you can become involved in the ‘Our Company Cares’ campaign, please contact Emma Barrett on tel: (01) 231 6621 or email corporate@irishcancer.ie.