Annual charity walk for Mercy Cancer Appeal
A major annual charity walk will honour a pioneering Cork fundraiser who lost his battle with cancer earlier this month.
This year’s Make Your Mark on Cancer walk will celebrate the life’s work of Micheál Sheridan, CEO of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, who died on 4 June.
Taking place on 14 July, the event will see hundreds of walkers take to the road for the 22km charity walk from the Viaduct to the Town Hall in Bandon, which will once again raise funds for the Mercy Cancer Appeal. The walk begins at the Viaduct at 9am and there will be complimentary buses leaving from Kelleher’s Builder Providers in Bandon from 8am to drop walkers to the Viaduct.
This year’s walk marks a very special milestone in the history of the event, as the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre, which was a long term ambition of the organising committee, opened its doors earlier this year at 9 Dyke Parade. Organisers of the walk decided to dedicate this year’s walk to Micheál, who was instrumental in bringing the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre to fruition.
The Mercy Cancer CARE Centre is a place for patients and their families to take time to understand what a cancer diagnosis means for them, and a place to come during their treatment for support and advice. It is home to the flagship psycho-oncology service which is delivered by clinical psychologists and is available to all patients (child/ adolescent/ adult) with a cancer diagnosis who attend the Mercy University Hospital, as well as their family members.
The first Make Your Mark on Cancer walk took place in 2013 in memory of Bandon man Mark Prendergast who passed away from testicular cancer.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s walk, Damien Prendergast, Chairman of the Make Your Mark on Cancer committee, said: “We first started organising this event to honour and remember my brother Mark, but this year we are dedicating it to the memory of Micheál Sheridan, who did so much to advance cancer care at the Mercy.
“Little did we know back in 2013 the impact that the event would have on other families who would find themselves in a similar situation to ours, facing a tough cancer journey.
“The new Cancer CARE Centre is, and will be, a tremendous resource and source of support to the many families who are in the midst of a cancer journey,” added Mr Prendergast.
A portion of the funds raised this year will also sponsor testicular cancer awareness talks for male students aged 15-18 in a number of schools across the county. Over 350 students from Carrigaline, Millstreet and Bantry have already benefited from this programme which informs and educates young men on the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, how to monitor for symptoms, and what to do if they have any signs of the illness.
Registration for the walk is €25 or free to all who take sponsorship cards available from makeyourmark.ie or by phoning 086-4542132.
For more information on fundraising for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and information about the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre, visit mercyfundraising.ie.