Kilbeggan Ladies' Day funds 'hugely important' to LARCC

One in three people die of cancer each year, and in a country with the population the size of Ireland, that is a quite a frightening statistic.However the LARCC Cancer Centre, which stands for the Lakeland Area Retreat and Cancer Centre, based in Rathowen is a place where people who are either suffering from Cancer, or have been affected by disease in some way such as carers or close family members, can go for some quiet time, reflection and recovery.The LARCC Centre is a registered charity and needs to continually raise money to enable the Centre to continue to deliver the service they provide, and so on Saturday, August 8, there is a LARCC day at the Kilbeggan Races, where all proceeds from pre-paid tickets to Ladies' Day at the Kilbeggan Races will go towards LARCC.Also on Saturday, August 15 - a LARCC in the Park concert will take place in the Mullingar Park Hotel, which will be headlined by The Blizzards, with support from other local acts Peter Doran and DJ Leon.Last week the Westmeath Examiner visited the LARCC Centre during one of its residential weeks which offers time for relaxation, reflection and recovery by skilled therapists, nurses and counsellors, and which is all provided in a relaxed and homely environment, with nurses on duty 24/7.While there, we got to speak to some of the people about how the LARCC Centre has helped them and experience first hand the support they receive there.Ann Swan from Dublin, who is suffering with Cancer, visited the LARCC Centre last year and returned again last week because she said the centre has a natural atmosphere of healing:"When I was here last year I was in much better fettle than I am at the moment, but I enjoyed it so much that I decided to come back."I think it just has an atmosphere towards healing, and when I came down here on Monday I was quite ill. But two days into the week and I feel the best I've felt since last February," said Ann."I've learned that you live each day really living it rather than fearing it here, you learn to value time and do things you love even though sometimes it's difficult to do," she said.LARRC services the whole of Ireland, giving support and holistic help to cancer patients and their carers providing an environment for one to one counselling, complementary therapies, workshops, bra and prosthesis fittings.Sheila Dempsey also from Dublin said LARCC was a place where you could be yourself again and not be defined by cancer: "You can get lost in the disease, the disease actually takes over. From when you are told the news that you have cancer, it's hospital, medication and you lose yourself on the way - you forget who you are. You can become depressed and sad, so the week down here in LARCC makes it all just float away," said Sheila Dempsey."When you're diagnosed with cancer and you walk out the door, you wonder 'where do I go from here?'. So here at LARCC you can sit down and you get everybody else's different opinion about what you do. LARCC also puts you in touch with other people in your area, so that you don't just come in here for a week, it's an ongoing support network," she explained.A typical day of the residential week consists of one or more of the following therapies: discussion and counselling, reflexology, Tai Chi, Art Therapy, Reiki, Indian Head Massage, Guided Walking, Dietary Requirements, Beauty Treatments, massage, meditation and group work.Director of Services at LARCC, Sue Bennett explained the ethos of the centre: "There has been a rumour that we're a hospice, but we're not. People don't come here to die, LARCC is about making however long or short your life is, to give people the strength and energy, and a few tips on how to manage your fear and the disease. So that's really what we're about is trying to help," she explained.However LARCC is expanding all the time continued Sue: "The message here is that LARCC is overflowing with clients and people, the house itself is not big enough for what we want to do so we would like to expand, but we have some extra temporary space which is for our therapy and our breast care service," she said."That is why we are so grateful for all the support we receive from fundraising."Since the LARCC Centre opened in 2002, 485 clients have called in for therapy and counselling, receiving 5820 sessions that include either counselling and or therapy."Through the residential programme, because we only take five people at a time every three to four weeks, LARCC has had a total of 360 clients through their doors."LARCC also provides a free-call in service which is confidential individual counselling, as well as a telephone support service, monthly bereavement meetings, regular general cancer support group meetings, a breast care service and products for bra and prosthesis fitting where they accept both private sales and medical sales.Josephine Shine-Roche from Tipperary and her husband and full-time carer Larry Roche, who were also part of LARCC residential week, explained why it is so important that the service continues:"The founder of this house - Ita Bourke who is from Templemore in Tipperary, she built LARCC because she was also diagnosed with cancer and new the importance of a centre like this one - of which at the time there was none in Ireland," said Josephine."I was also here last year and I was so impressed that I just had to come back again because I found it a great help. I wasn't long after my surgery - I had breast surgery and it was a devastating experience."Coming here I found there was a great platform for counselling, for getting things out that you'd have on your mind, that you could speak about and get out in the open."It's a complete relief to get that out of your system. As well as that, LARCC is a lovely place to get away from it all and have rest. It's almost like a pamper week," she finished.Another man, Cathal Murray, who is now in remission from his cancer agreed: "Even though I'm in the clear, you still wake up every morning thinking is this the day it's going to come back. But since coming here it's changed the way I feel about it all. I realise that I'm not the only one who's afraid, and I'm not the only one that's dealing with it and there are people worse off who are dealing with it than you."There should be one of these places in every town in the country. I lost my father to cancer 25 years ago, and when I heard about LARCC, I thought it was a great idea, so I started fundraising for it. Little did I know I'd ever end up here myself."Even though I'm in the clear now, the fear is always there that the cancer will come back. But it's good to know that you can come here where people understand that fear, that you're not on your own."So make sure to pick up your pre-paid tickets to Ladies' Day at the Kilbeggan Races on Saturday, August 8. Tickets cost €20 which includes entry to the races and entry into the Best Dressed Lady competition which will be judged by the current Rose of Tralee Aoife Kelly, and a raffle draw on the night.It is also a family day out with kids getting into the races for free and entertainment included.All monies raised from the sale of tickets prior to the event will go straight to LARCC. It is essential that people buy their tickets before the 8th of August as none of the proceeds from tickets sold on the night will go towards LARCC. Tickets are available by contacting the LARCC centre on 044 9371971 and are on sale at selected stores.