DONEGAL is way out in
front in the Relay for Life event with more teams,
more candles pre-sold and record amounts raised so
far, according to the Irish Cancer Society.
The society has also outlined out the Donegal Relay
for Life monies will be spent:
Daffodil Centre – The new Daffodil Centre in
Letterkenny General Hospital is scheduled to be
opened in the second half of 2012 and will be
staffed by a specialist cancer nurse, aided by a
team of trained volunteers to provide free, expert
support and advice to cancer patients, their
families and the general public who have cancer
concerns. The Daffodil Centre will also direct
people towards other support services provided by
the Irish Cancer Society like financial aid, Care to
Drive or local support groups.
Care to Drive – A free transport service to
appointments and treatments in Letterkenny General
Hospital for cancer patients. Care to Drive recruits
and trains volunteer drivers to bring patients to
their appointments and drop them home again
afterwards, free of charge. Care to Drive reduces
the stress of having to drive yourself to treatment
or ask family and friends to help and also reduces
the financial burden of cancer on the patients.
National Cancer Helpline – Provides free cancer
advice and support service to people concerned about
cancer. All helpline staff are specialist cancer
nurses. Often these helpline nurses can answer
questions that the patient would otherwise need to
wait for until their next hospital appointment. The
Helpline can direct people towards other support
services provided such as financial aid, Care to
Drive, Daffodil Centre or local support groups.
Cancer Research – In 2012 the Irish Cancer Society
is investing €3.1m in Cancer Research programs
across the country. For example, in the last 2 years
4 new research proposals in Galway (two Research
Scholarships and two prostate cancer research
projects) have been funded with a total value of
over €500,000. Irish Cancer Society research made
over 650 important findings in 30 years. Funding top
class research in Ireland means Irish patients have
access to the latest treatments and breakthroughs
wherever those discoveries are made.
Nursing Services – Irish Cancer Society’s night
nursing team provides palliative and respite care
for cancer patients and their families in their own
home. In 2011, 85 nights of nursing care was
provided by Irish Cancer Society night nurses to
cancer patients and their families in their own
homes in Donegal.
Financial Aid – The Irish Cancer Society’s financial
aid program provides a grant to support cancer
patients who are experiencing financial hardship due
to their diagnosis and treatment. In 2011 the
Financial Aid program gave out over €1 million in
grants.
Cancer Awareness and Health Promotion Materials –
688,266 cancer information booklets and fact sheets
were distributed to people concerned about cancer
across the country in 2011.
For more information on these programs and all the
other services and supports the Irish Cancer Society
provide, including support groups, advocacy and
policy change, which are supported by Relay for Life
Donegal, please visit www.cancer.ie or low call 1800
700 800 |
