Daffodil Day got off to an early start in Mullingar with a collection at O’Brien’s Filling Station, Lynn Road; from left, Garda Kevin Mulvey and Garda Michael Walsh, with Geraldine Ring, committee treasurer.

Target of €50k for local Daffodil Day volunteers

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Let’s turn Mullingar yellow this Friday, March 28 – national Daffodil Day – in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. The local campaign raised more than €50,000 last year, which the organisers say is testament to the generosity of local people, and they are hoping for an equally positive response this year.

Chairperson of the Mullingar Daffodil Day Committee, Marie O’Toole, urges everyone to help turn the town yellow on Friday. She and the committee are grateful to the volunteers, who number more than 150, for their continued support over the years, and to the new volunteers who have joined up this year.

“We also wish to acknowledge the generosity of the people of Mullingar and the surrounding areas for the marvellous support shown to this great cause, year in year out. We look forward to seeing the town go Yellow for Daffodil Day,” Marie said.

She said plans are well advanced for this year’s campaign, acknowledged the support of volunteers, schools, voluntary organisations and businesses and said the committee appeal to the generosity of the people of Mullingar once again this year.

The volunteers will be based at several locations around the town, selling daffodil pins, silks, and other Daffodil Day merchandise.

Daffodil Day is the Irish Cancer Society’s biggest fundraising event of the year. Last year, €5.6 million was raised nationally. The funds raised help to provide free services and support to cancer patients and their families across Ireland.

Daffodil Day has been held every year since 1988, and, as only five percent of the funds needed come from the state, the Irish Cancer Society rely on the proceeds of Daffodil Day to contribute to the €25 million needed to cover its range of services such as research, patient services, childhood cancer therapy and advocacy campaigns.

Each year, approximately 42,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. Ireland has the second highest incidence of newly diagnosed cancers in the European Union.

Last year, 26,500 free transport lifts to treatment services were provided as part of the volunteer transport driver service, taking more than 2,500 patients to and from treatment appointments, and more than 6,000 nights of nursing enabled more than 1,700 patients to spend their final days at home, with their families.

Support for 28,000 people at the Daffodil Day centres located at a number of hospitals, was also provided. Funding and support were provided for over 180 research projects, in the development of new treatment methods and early detection systems.

The Irish Cancer Society support line is available at Freephone 1800 200 700 weekdays from 9am to 5pm.

TG4 at Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn

A crew from TG4 are to visit Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn this Thursday morning to film a feature on the efforts in support of Daffodil Day.

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