‘We were grasping for anything’
A UCC student who lost her father to cancer is raising funds and turning Cork purple for a local cancer support centre.
Kinsale native Eimear Kiely, a first year law and Irish student in UCC, lost her father in November 2018 to oesophageal cancer.
Shortly afterwards, a friend of Eimear’s mother suggested they visit Cork ARC Cancer Support House on Sarsfield Road in the city, something Eimear said filled the family with hope.
Cork ARC has support houses located on the Sarsfield Road and Bantry and an outreach service in Knocknaheeny.
“We were grasping for anything, so when we heard about it, we just went for it. I first started there with counselling and I was really unsure because I had never been to counselling before so I didn't really know what to expect,” Eimear told the Cork Independent.
She added: “It was so unlike anything you'd hear about counselling. It wasn't clinical or anything. You just walk in the door and it's so warm. People were just so friendly. It was amazing and so comforting.”
Eimear’s father was diagnosed in April of 2018 and passed away the following November, something Eimear said left her and her family in shock.
“My mum tried to keep strong for the rest of us. We were in complete shock, we knew we needed help and didn’t know where to turn to,” she said.
Last month Eimear launched the #GoPurple4Arc social media campaign and GoFundMe page to raise funds for Cork ARC Cancer Support House, who rely entirely on donations and sponsoring.
Eimear said: “It's so hard from them to get the donations that they need. They really do need all the help they can get. I wanted to give something back. I feel like they don't get the recognition they deserve.”
The campaign, which Eimear said she based loosely on the ice bucket challenge, asks people to post a purple-themed picture on their social media feeds and then nominate friend to do the same.
On 19 March, the campaign will be extended to businesses, schools and teams around Cork in a bit to ‘turn Cork purple’ for a day.
“There's been such a great response. It's crazy. I only expected about €500 because I've never done anything like this before,” Eimear explained.
So far the campaign has raised over €4,000. To get involved or make donate visit gofundme.com and search Go Purple 4 Arc.
The GoFundMe account will be closed in late April with all funds raised going to Cork ARC Support House.