Major fundraiser launched for CUH cancer technology
An urgent fundraising campaign is underway on Leeside to raise money for medical equipment which can advance cancer testing.
The ground-breaking technology would allow patients to start their highly targeted therapies and clinical trials earlier while it will also have the potential to improve cancer patient quality of life and survival.
CUH Charity’s Ambassador Peter O’Mahony launched the fundraising campaign recently on World Ovarian Cancer Day.
He is asking people to come up with creative fundraising ideas for their social media fundraising campaign, have a bit of fun with it, and when they donate, they set themselves a challenge enabling friends, families, communities and companies to pull together to improve cancer services for future generations.
It could be a sporting, art or household challenge like a run around the garden, a Zoom party, a 5km walk, shave your head or a virtual tractor run to raise awareness and fundraising for this initiative.
“The campaign is supported by the Fenton family in memory of their beautiful daughter and sister, Karen, who died of ovarian cancer, and they have raised €75,000 to date for the critical technology,” said the Ireland and Munster rugby player, who is fronting this fundraising campaign.
He added: “Cancer has not gone away, so we are forging ahead with fundraising. Along with the €75,000 from the Fenton family, the charity has existing funds of €100,000 but we still need to raise the remaining €275,000 needed to purchase this life-changing technology for cancer patients through our idonate page.”
According to Clinical Director for Cancer Services, Dr Richard Bambury, growth in cancer rates will continue to rise, as the population lives longer, and as new cancers continue to emerge.
Dr Bambury said: “CUH has seen 200 new patients in radiotherapy and 50 patients in chemotherapy in the last six weeks alone, demonstrating the seriousness of the situation and the necessity to provide a quick turnaround and halt progression of cancers. This is where this vital piece of equipment - the Ion Torrent Genexus Integrated Sequencer technology - will enable consultants to accurately test multiple cancer genes in a single specimen like a tissue or blood test. This test negates the need to rely on single-gene tests, which yield more limited information.”
To donate to visit idonate.ie/CUHCCancerCampaign.
Alternatively, if you have a fundraising idea or wish to make a private donation, call 021-4234529 or email info@cuhcharity.ie.