65 Roses Day on the way

Cork people are being urged to support an annual fundraising day for services and supports for people with cystic fibrosis in Ireland.

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day will take place throughout Cork city and county and across the country on 14 April.

65 Roses Day takes its name from the way young children often first attempt to pronounce the words “cystic fibrosis”.

On the day, volunteers will be out in force selling purple roses in Dunnes Stores and other participating outlets.

As part of the lead up to the fundraiser day, local radio stations are being encouraged to play the new song ‘Breath Easy’ by Cork songwriter Myles Gaffney and featuring fellow Cork musician Stephanie Rainey on vocals.

‘Breathe Easy’, which comes out on 8 April, is an original song written in memory of Myles’ late-niece Ciara O’Gorman, also from Cork, who died from cystic fibrosis (CF) complications in 2017 aged 24, 12 days after giving birth to her son, Rocco. The track features other well-known musicians including Blacky (Michael) O’Connell, Claire Sands, and Rory McCarthy, and was produced by Myles Gaffney and Kealan Kenny. All royalties earned from every radio play of ‘Breathe Easy’ up until 14 April will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. People can also donate to the ‘Breathe Easy’ 65 Roses Day fundraiser by visiting justgiving.com/fundraising/BreatheEasySong.

Funds raised on 65 Roses Day will help to provide exercise equipment, counselling sessions, and grants for people with CF undergoing a transplant or fertility assessment, or for families with CF who have recently been bereaved. Funds also go to support research and the building of new CF hospital facilities and the funding of specialist CF staff.

CF is an inherited chronic disease that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system. Ireland has the highest incidence of CF in the world and some of the most severe types.

There are currently more than 1,400 people living with CF in Ireland.