Cancer Care West is a not for profit organisation and registered west of Ireland charity (CHY 11260 ) dedicated to supporting those whose lives have been affected by a cancer diagnosis.
In March 2007, Cancer Care West built Inis Aoibhinn, a 30-bedroom residence on the grounds of GUH which provides accommodation to patients undergoing radiotherapy who would otherwise have to travel long distances for their daily treatment or be accommodated as an inpatient at GUH or in private accommodation provided by the HSE (ie B&B )
Inis Aoibhinn offers a “home from home “environment for residents and accommodates patients from Donegal to North Tipperary, Clare and Limerick with the average length of stay approximately five weeks. An important feature of the residence is that all rooms are twin rooms which allow a spouse, family member or friend to stay with the patient in Inis Aoibhinn for all or part of their cancer treatment.
The Lodge has been a great success story for cancer patients in the west of Ireland and consistently operates at 100 per cent occupancy levels, and up to the end of February 2011 has accommodated over 1,200 patients from all over the west of Ireland. In fact the demand is so strong for admission into the lodge, three additional rooms was added in September of last year.
Cancer can be a very distressing illness from a psychological point of view, both for people with cancer and for the family, friends and carers supporting them. With this in mind we opened the Cancer Care West Support Centre in May 2009, a stand alone community based centre which offers advice, information, psychological counselling and a range of complementary therapies to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis, whether they be newly diagnosed, are finished treatment or are living with cancer on an on going basis.
Individual supports offered at our centre include one to one counselling, clinical psychology, massage and reflexology. Our courses include stress management, mindfulness, creative art and creative writing. We also run a nutrition course to promote a healthy diet. We also run support groups for people coping with cancer — most recently starting a prostate cancer support group in February.
The need for such a service in the West of Ireland is reflected in the numbers who have passed through the centre’s doors since we opened. In 2010, our first full year of service, over 1,200 people visited the centre a total of over 5,500 times. Our key aim for 2011 is to make sure that everyone who needs to benefit from the types of cancer support we offer is doing so.
While our service grows and expands, we are also aware that there are many people who would benefit from using the centre but are anxious about crossing the threshold because they are not sure of what to expect. But once they take that first step, they see that we have created a space that is a warm home from home and full of vibrancy and life. Our centre is a place where they can take part in a range of activities and classes, relax or just have a chat over a cup of tea.
There is also the chance to meet with others in a similar situation and to get expert advice, if needed, for example on how the right benefits are claimed such as medical cards or long-term illness supports.
All of our services are provided at no cost to the cancer patient and their families and the charity relies heavily on fundraising and donations to meet the cost of providing these services. There are many ways in which you can help raise much needed funds for Cancer Care West – take part in The Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin on June 6 or run/walk The Galway Bay 10/ Half Marathon on October 1 or even organise your own fundraising event and get your friends, family, neighbours or colleagues to support you.
For more information on fundraising phone 091 545000 or email [email protected]
For more information on Inis Aoibhinn, 091 545000 or email [email protected]
For more information on our Support Centre, phone 091 540040 or email [email protected]
For more information on Cancer Care West log onto www.cancercarewest.ie
