Cystic Fibrosis Ireland launches
Cystic Fibrosis National Awareness Week
With Ireland having the highest rates of cystic fibrosis in the world and some of the most severe types of the disease—around 1,200 people are living with cystic fibrosis here currently—Cystic Fibrosis Ireland has announced that Cystic Fibrosis National Awareness Week will take place from April 11 to 17.
As part of the week, on 65 Roses Day on Friday, April 15, volunteers will be selling purple roses and other 65 Roses memorabilia in the Desmac Bandon Shopping Centre in Bandon, Blackpool Shopping Centre, Wilton Shopping Centre, North Main Street Shopping Centre and Douglas Village Shopping Centre in Cork to raise much-needed funds for cystic fibrosis services.
The aim is to raise €65,000 nationally which will go towards patient support grants for transplant assessment, fertility treatment and counselling, as well as research and new healthcare facilities.
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day gets its name from the way in which children are first taught to say the words “cystic fibrosis”. The launch of the campaign was supported by local Deputy for Cork North-West Aindrias Moynihan TD, Deputy for Cork South-West Margaret Murphy O’Mahony TD, Deputy for Cork East Pat Buckley TD and Deputy for Cork South-Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, while RTÉ’s Keelin Shanley and Bryan Dobson are calling on the public to do any or all of three things to lend their support:
- 65 Roses Day: buy a purple rose for €2 on 65 Roses Day, Friday April 15 or donate at www.cfireland.ie
- 65 Roses Challenge: organise a fun 65-themed challenge fundraiser—there are lots of fun ideas to be found at www.facebook.com/cysticfibrosisireland/events, or
- 65 Roses Text Donate: make a €2 text donation by texting “65ROSES” to 50300 [100% of a donation goes to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland across most network operators. Some operators apply VAT which means that a minimum of €1.63 will go to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 0766805278.]
Speaking about the awareness campaign, Philip Watt, Chief Executive, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, highlighted positive developments that have taken place in recent years but that progress needs to be maintained:
“Despite coming from a very low base, there has been much progress in improving cystic fibrosis care in Ireland over the past three years, in terms of the development of dedicated cystic fibrosis health facilities, the lung transplant programme at the Mater Hospital in Dublin and new ground-breaking drugs.
“This is reflected in the fact that more people are living longer with cystic fibrosis than ever before. However, this momentum has to be sustained and, in particular, we need to see progress in addressing significant staffing shortages in some CF centres, the further development of key health facilities and the provision of drugs which have the potential to make a huge difference to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis but which remain to be approved by health authorities here. We are in a period of real hope for people with cystic fibrosis for the first time—let’s not put that in jeopardy now.”
RTÉ Presenters Coming Up Roses for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland
RTÉ presenter and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador, Keelin Shanley, is urging the public to get behind Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day fundraising appeal:
“Funds raised on 65 Roses Day go to support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s range of services which include grants to support people with CF, the development of new CF health facilities, research and education. By way of example, in 2015, more than 300 grants amounting to €147,000 were awarded to people with cystic fibrosis to support them in a wide range of areas, from fertility treatment and transplant assessment, to exercise equipment and education support. Without the support of the public, the support grants provided to people with cystic fibrosis simply wouldn’t happen.”
RTÉ One Six One presenter, Bryan Dobson, underlined the importance of meeting the challenge presented by cystic fibrosis:
“With the levels of cystic fibrosis in Ireland so high, it really is incumbent on us to meet the challenge of this disease head on. Will you buy a purple rose from a volunteer on 65 Roses Day on Friday April 15 or even volunteer to sell in your own community or workplace? Will you join in a 65-themed fundraiser or come up with one of your own—maybe bake 65 tea cakes and have a cake sale, or have your colleagues sponsor you to do 65 laps of the office stairs? Or if you’re a busy bee, could you simply text the words ’65ROSES’ to 50300 to make a quick and easy €2 donation, or donate at cfireland.ie? Whatever you decide to do, know this—you will be making a vital difference to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis in this country.”
If you’d like to volunteer to help sell purple roses and other merchandise on 65 Roses Day or you’d like to take up an exciting 65 Roses challenge, why not visit www.cfireland.ie, telephone the Cystic Fibrosis Ireland fundraising team on 1890 311 211 or email fundraising@cfireland.ie
