Rachel Duffy has been announced as Cancer Fund for Children’s new cancer support specialist for Galway. Ms Duffy, a native of Roscommon now living in Barna, will provide informal therapeutic, social and emotional support to children diagnosed with cancer, their siblings and families in Galway and throughout the west.
The children’s cancer charity announced the appointment this week.
Rachel has been a community nurse in the west for two years, and previously worked as a paediatric nurse in Ireland and abroad.
“Spending time with children and young people is one of my favourite things to do and I’m delighted to be in a role where I can help and support them and their families during a very difficult time,” she said. “I think cancer support specialists in the community are so important to families and children as it allows them to access support from the comfort of their own environment and means they don’t have to travel.
“I’m also so happy to be joining Cancer Fund for Children at such an exciting time as they expand their vital services across the island of Ireland.”
The charity also recently launched Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo, an epic 300km endurance challenge which will help fund the expansion of its services across Ireland. The challenge will see former Ireland and Ulster rugby captain Rory Best walking from Dublin to Mayo from May 16 to 25, to help Cancer Fund for Children build Daisy Lodge, a therapeutic short break centre in in Cong, Co Mayo for children and families impacted by cancer.
Best’s route will take him through Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Galway, and Mayo. He will be arriving in Galway on Wednesday May 24, the ninth day of his challenge.
Cancer Fund for Children works to empower, connect and strengthen children, young people and families impacted by cancer by providing therapeutic services in hospital, at home and at their therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co Down. The charity currently supports 1,800 people with short breaks and hopes to more than double that when its second facility opens in Mayo.
“Having Rachel join the team is such an amazing development and we can’t wait to support her as she builds relationships and provides much-needed support to children and families,” Phil Alexander, CEO of Cancer Fund for Children, said of Ms Duffy’s appointment. “This role is funded in partnership with the Katie Nugent Fund and we are working with this fantastic organisation to recruit three more cancer support specialists across Cork, Cavan and Westmeath, and Dublin in the coming months.”
Find out more about Cancer Fund for Children by visiting www.cancerfundforchildren.com You can also find out more about Rory Best’s challenge and how to support it by visiting www.rorysmiles2mayo.com
