The 123.ie winter charity is The Irish Cancer Society. The Irish Cancer Society is a 94% volunteer funded organisation who aims to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Since 1963 they have invested over €30 million from voluntary donations into hundreds of innovative research projects, which have made over 700 new findings.
Fundraising Events
Our staff champion for The Irish Cancer Society is Marina and Laura who both work in our Finance Department. Much work has gone into the fundraising events to raise as much money as possible for the charity over the winter. The fundraising will kick off with pink and blue themed casual day in the office in early December.
There are also many more office events organised such as raffles and Christmas bake sales where the staff get to highlight their baking abilities.
Marina’s Story
“I am delighted to be helping raise funds in this Winter Charity Campaign for the Irish Cancer Society as my family, like so many of us, have had cancer be a big part of their life.
My granny fell sick several years ago, and was diagnosed with Skin Cancer. She was very sick for almost 3 years, and as a result we spent a lot of time travelling from Donegal to St. Luke’s Hospital in Rathgar with her for treatment. The staff there were a tremendous source of comfort and support to us. She was treated with such dignity and care, and her life was definitely prolonged by their intervention and medical help. We also had a specialist night nurse come visit us regularly at home to help out, as my mammy was her full time carer. Granny always felt like she was in the best possible hands. Sadly, she passed away in 1999.
My granny’s daughter (my Aunty Mary) had a routine breast check 8 years ago which found a lump, and the speed with which her biopsy was done and her treatment started was remarkable. Her cancer was detected quite early and she had to undergo a very aggressive course of chemotherapy, but thankfully she has been in remission for the past 5 years.
Where I live in Donegal, we are very badly serviced for Cancer Care. There is a bus that is run purely on voluntary donations that brings patients from every corner of Donegal to Galway for their closest cancer treatment centre of excellence. I passionately believe that the cure for cancer will be found in our lifetime and that the suffering of thousands of patients a year can be eliminated. To do this, we need to keep fundraising as much as possible to try find this cure”.
Laura's Story
"I am thrilled to be participating in fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society this quarter. Like Marina and many of our colleagues here, a lot of my friends and family have had their lives affected directly by cancer.
I had my first encounter with cancer when I was 7 and lost my beloved Granny to cancer. When I was 17 and still in school, a close friend was diagnosed with an aggressive tumour, she thankfully fought like a trooper and has been in remission for over 10 years. In my early twenties, both my mum and step-dad were diagnosed with skin cancer (they’re both ok now) and I lost my step-nana to skin cancer. More recently, a close relative has been diagnosed with cervical cancer at a very young age.
Throughout all of these experiences the Irish Cancer Society have been a constant source of support, inspiration and learning. From their fantastic fundraising campaigns, to the support services they provide to cancer patients and their families and the wonderful awareness they raise of cancer, they are truly an inspirational charity. I look forward to working with them and hopefully raising a lot of awareness and vital donations!"
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Source: Cancer.ie
