The Irish Cancer Society is a charity that is very close to my heart. In February 2014, during the time of my leaving cert in school, my mam was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a big shock to my family and friends as she was such a healthy and fit person. In December 2015, she sadly passed away peacefully at home. During my mam’s diagnosis, I was made a lot more aware of the incredible hard work that the Irish cancer society do, they offered amazing help to my mam with any questions she had about her diagnosis and medication. They were extremely kind to her and always made sure she was comfortable, they helped her live a good quality life while receiving treatment. They offered counseling services to my family and also gave us the loveliest night nurse who worked incredibly hard to make my mam comfortable at home so she could receive medication outside hospital. They helped me so much with advice on how to deal with my mam’s cancer during school. I didn’t worry too much with school though, I did my best but my priority was my mam. After my leaving cert, I got no CAO offers as I failed pass maths but I wasn’t in a position to go to college to be honest, instead I became my mam’s carer while my dad worked and The Irish Cancer Society helped us. I’m so glad I didn’t go to college because I would’ve lost precious time with my mam, life has a funny way of working things out but I eventually got to college after my mam’s passing and I know she’d definitely be proud of me for that. The Irish Cancer Society made my mam’s diagnosis that little bit more bearable to cope with as they were always there for us whenever we needed them. They are incredible people to talk to and completely understood my worries, when things took a turn for the worst they prepared me in the most professional, respectful and kindest way possible. The Irish Cancer Society will always be close to my heart, I wouldn’t have been able to deal with my mam’s diagnosis and stay strong if it wasn’t for them. I will forever be grateful for their amazing work they’ve done for me and my family.  My dad took time out of work during my mam’s diagnosis but the Irish Cancer Society made things so much easier providing a night nurse and helping us set up the house to bring mam home from hospital. Without the funding of the public they wouldn’t be able to do this incredible work to provide fantastic services to families affected by cancer. I can’t put into words how to explain my whole experience with them but they gave me such an eye opener into how hard they work. They provided the best support to me and gave my mam so much help and treated her with passion, respect, dignity and love. They did everything they possibly could to save her but also made her so comfortable during her final days and for that I will be forever grateful. We have all been affected by cancer in some way, by 2020 1 in 5 of us will be affected by this illness. Support Daffodil Day, Friday March 22nd and take a stand against cancer. If this helps save at least one persons life, that’s one step closer to discover a cure for such a devastating illness. Also please always check your bodies regularly for any changes, lumps, change in color in moles, etc. Educate yourselves on the various signs of cancer as it could save your life. This Fundraiser is in memory of my mam, Bernadette O’Loughlin as Mother’s Day is March 31st.

Thank you so much for reading this and for your support, a little means an awful lot!