Annual charity walk is back
The annual Make Your Mark on Cancer charity walk is back this July, and organisers are hoping to have the biggest and best fundraiser to date.
Taking place on Sunday 17 July, organisers of the charity walk anticipate that hundreds of people will once again take on the 22km challenge of walking from The Viaduct Inn to the Town Hall in Bandon to raise funds for the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre.
This will be the 9th year of the Make Your Mark on Cancer walk, back in all its glory, having taken a virtual format last year.
Set up in 2013 to remember Bandon man Mark Prendergast, who passed away from testicular cancer in 2012, the charity walk has raised over €367,000 for the Mercy Cancer Appeal, and in particular the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre.
Commenting on the return of Make Your Mark on Cancer, Mark’s brother, Damien Prendergast, Chairman of the organising committee said: “We are delighted to see the return of this popular walk as we are so proud of what Make Your Mark on Cancer has achieved over the past 8 years.
“Little did we know when we first started organising the event in honour of my brother Mark, that we would go on to raise over €367,000 to date.”
With more than €1.6 million raised so far, the Foundation needs to raise approximately €800,000 more to make the long-held goal a reality for cancer patients at the Mercy.
It is anticipated that ground will be broken at the development this July.
Speaking on the impact the funds have had, CEO of The Mercy University Hospital Foundation, Paschal McCarthy said: “The funds raised have made a significant difference in continuously improving cancer services at the Mercy University Hospital.
“Receiving a cancer diagnosis can, and often does, cause huge emotional distress which is why we are committed to developing the Mercy’s dedicated Cancer CARE Centre just a minute’s walk away from both the main hospital and the Outpatient Department,” concluded Mr McCarthy.
If you would like to Make Your Mark on Cancer on 17 July, registration is €25, or free to all who take sponsorship cards.
Visit makeyourmark.ie or phone 086-4542132 to register or receive your sponsorship card.
Registration for the walk will also take place at Bandon Town Hall in the weeks leading up to the walk.
For more information on fundraising for the Mercy Hospital Foundation and information about the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre visit
mercyfundraising.ie.