Irish Cancer Society provided almost 30,000 free lifts to treatment in 2025, new figures show
“Those free lifts to hospital meant among the chaos of my cancer diagnosis and treatment, that a little bit of normality could carry on at home”
Charity urgently needs to raise over €30 million in 2026 and is calling on Irish public to go all in against cancer this Daffodil Day
Monday, 16 March: Today, the Irish Cancer Society announced the impact of the charity’s services and supports to cancer patients and their families ahead of Daffodil Day, the Society’s flagship fundraising initiative which takes place this Friday, 20 March.
The impact report reveals almost 30,000 (29,874) free lifts to and from cancer treatment, over 26,000 Support Line and Daffodil Centre conversations with people affected by cancer, over 14,300 free counselling sessions, as well as close to 6,000 free nights of Night Nursing for those at end of life.
Robert Flanagan was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in January 2024 aged 48. The father of three from Dublin, now living in Portlaoise, availed of the Irish Cancer Society’s Patient Travel Service to get to and from his treatment in Tallaght Hospital.
Robert said:
“When I received the news of my cancer diagnosis, everything became a blur. My thoughts immediately turned to my wife Caren and our three children. I went from being on medication for piles to being told I have Stage 4 colorectal cancer that has spread to my liver.
“When I was first diagnosed, our children were 13, 11 and 5. We wanted to try keep things as normal for them as we could. We're a one car household and suddenly something as simple as the school run is clashing with me needing to get to my treatment in Tallaght. That’s where the Irish Cancer Society’s Transport Service was a lifeline for us. Those free lifts to hospital meant among the chaos of my cancer diagnosis and treatment, that a little bit of normality could carry on at home. I'm forever grateful for those lifts and I'm asking people to give what they can this Daffodil Day, because the Transport Service that the Irish Cancer Society provides, is fuelled by your donations and generosity. They can't be there for families like mine without your vital support.”
Newly appointed Irish Cancer Society CEO, Nikki Gallagher is urging the public go all in against cancer and raise vital funds this Friday, 20 March to ensure these vital, free services can continue.
“One in two of us will get a cancer diagnosis in our lifetimes. It's estimated that 44,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year in Ireland, and we aim to be there for every one of them. With just 5% of our funding coming from the State, we rely on the incredible generosity of the Irish public to deliver our vital free supports and services. We simply cannot be there to support patients and families like Robert's without that amazing support.
“It takes over €30m to run the Irish Cancer Society each year, including the delivery of our free services and investment in ground-breaking cancer research. Our aim this Daffodil Day is to raise over €6m and every bit of support the Irish public can give us will go directly towards helping those impacted by cancer. We’re asking communities in every corner of Ireland to go yellow this Daffodil Day, to buy a pin and wear it in solidarity with those who have been affected by cancer. The more we raise, the more we can be there for patients and their families when they need us the most.”
The Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day takes place on Friday, 20 March. Show your support by purchasing a Daffodil Day pin on the day, or donating at cancer.ie or via donations tab in the Revolut app. For more information on Daffodil Day, visit cancer.ie
Anyone with questions or concerns about cancer can contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700 or email supportline@irishcancer.ie
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