The Relay For Life Castlebar organising committee is delighted to announce that Relay For Life 2017 plans are on track and they are expecting a great event on September 23 and 24 in Breaffy Sports Arena. The Castlebar Relay For Life committee is joining forces with the Irish Cancer Society to host the deeply moving and uplifting 24-hour community event which celebrates cancer survivorship, remembers those sadly lost to cancer, and fights back by playing an active role in raising awareness of cancer in the community.
The committee is seeking teams of friends, neighbours, families and colleagues to come together in teams of eight to 15 people and commit to keeping a team member walking around the relay track in Breaffy Sports Arena over 24 hours.
Speaking about Relay For Life, Lorraine Maloney, survivor chair in the organising committee, said: “Attending Relay For Life last year moved me deeply and I felt I had to get involved. Having been touched in our own family by cancer I understand the importance of fighting back, of the need to raise money to fund vital research and support those in our community affected by the disease. For those of us who were involved last year, the experience was a truly fulfilling one. We want the community to know that you can make a difference.”
All funds raised through sponsorship and fundraising will go to support the Irish Cancer Society’s vital services, and to support their work in achieving world-class cancer research, ensuring fewer people get cancer and those that do have better outcomes. Last year, Relay For Life Castlebar raised an incredible €28,426.
The money raised is used to provide quality care and emotional support to people with cancer and their families across Ireland. Last year 82 cancer patients in Mayo received 490 nights of care through the society’s night nursing service. This service allows patients at the end of their cancer journey to receive end-of-life care in their own home, surrounded by their loved ones and supported by the home care nursing team. This is the only free, out-of-hours, nursing service available to cancer patients in Ireland.
