Norah Casey and Bobby Kerr are promoting Daffodil Day this year.

Public urged to support Daffodil Day and raise funds for local cancer services

The public and the business community across County Cavan are being urged to show their support for cancer patients by getting involved in Daffodil Day, which is today (Friday), March 23.

You can support it by purchasing daffodils from volunteers on the street, businesses selling them or participating retail outlets. They cost €3 each and all monies raised locally will be spent helping families from County Cavan through the Night Nursing Service. More than 80 volunteers are in and around Cavan Town today selling the pins. Other towns in the county are also covered.

Local women Martina Lee Boyle and Teresa Downey are fronting the fundraising campaign in Cavan. Nationally, for this the 31st year of the flag day, Bobby Kerr and Norah Casey are the ambassadors for the campaign. Both have experienced cancer in their lives and Norah’s husband also tragically died from cancer.
Broadcaster and successful businessman Bobby was diagnosed with mouth, head and neck cancer in 2015. The cancer was caught early and after chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment he got the all clear. He said: “Every year 40,000 people hear the dreaded words ‘you have cancer’. In 2015, one of those people was me. Thankfully years of cancer research had developed smart ways of treating the disease and this ultimately saved my life. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
Norah had a tumour removed from her breast several years ago and her husband Richard tragically died from aggressive kidney cancer. The broadcaster and leading Irish businesswoman said: “Richard dying just months after his diagnosis was devastating and sadly many people in Ireland go through the grief of losing a loved one to cancer. This year approximately 9,000 people will die of cancer in Ireland. But progress is being made in the fight against cancer and Daffodil Day is the day where you and your colleagues can make a real difference to the lives of people affected by cancer. Get involved now at www.cancer.ie. Your support saves lives.”
Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society Averil Power said, “Since 2010, the Society has invested over €25million in cancer research making us the leading voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland. This investment, funded 100% by donations, is greatly improving how we diagnose and treat cancer. Survival rates have risen. Six out of ten people are now surviving cancer for five years, compared to four out of ten in 1998. With your help we want to make this ten out of ten.”