The Irish Cancer Society has urged Cork people to sign up and volunteer for Daffodil Day, which takes place on Friday 26 March and hopes to raise €4 million euros nationwide for patient care services. John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society said: "Everyone has been touched by cancer either directly or indirectly and unfortunately the cancer incidence is growing all the time."

The latest data shows that 3,113 people were diagnosed with cancer in Cork in 2008 and that 30,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed across the country this year. "Cancer will affect one in three people during the course of their lifetime, however, more people are surviving cancer due to more people being diagnosed at an earlier stage and advances in treatment."

According to the society, 1,761 calls were made to the National Cancer Helpline in 2009, out of 19,331 nationally. It said that 606 nights of care was provided to Cork families in 2009 at a cost of €212,000.

Funding

Last year, €9,572 was allocated to cancer homecare Homecare Palliative Care Teams in Cork, while €61,618 worth of financial aid was provided to people in Cork that year also.

There are also two Oncology Liaison Nurses based at both the South Infirmary and Cork University Hospital, while the Irish Cancer Society also distributed over 49,882 cancer information booklets and fact sheets to people concerned about cancer in Cork in 2009.

Mr McCormack said that funds raised through the annual event would help fund free and direct patient care services for people with cancer and their families, The funds also contribute towards the provision of the Cancer Information Service (including the National Cancer helpline), the funding of hospital based Oncology Liaison Nurses, counselling and financial aid of cancer patients and the provision of a nationwide night nursing service for people at the end stage of their illness.

"So if you have some time to spare, come out, join our bunch and collect with us. It is a wonderful day and I can guarantee you will really enjoy being involved," he said. To find out how you can become a volunteer, phone CallSave 1850-606060.

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