Free Family Walk for Childhood Cancer Ireland “Light It Up Gold.”
6pm Saturday 16th September Mill Road Bridge, Ennis.
No Charge, No Fundraising, it is just about awareness.
Bring your family, bring your friends, sure why not bring your dog, everyone is welcome.
Music – Facepainting – Balloons.
Ennis Lions Club invite you to show support for children with cancer in Clare
An average of seven children, adolescents and young adults (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer each week in Ireland. This September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Childhood Cancer Ireland and Ennis Lions will ‘Light It Up Gold’ to raise awareness of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer, a disease which has been increasing annually by 1-2% over the last 25 years in Ireland.
Each year in Ireland, an average of 353 children, adolescents and young adults are diagnosed with cancer. Childhood Cancer Ireland is the national parent and survivor-led charity representing the voice of children and young people with cancer, survivors and their families. The seeds for the charity were planted 10 years ago in 2013, when a group of parents struggling to find adequate supports and services got together for the first Light It Up Gold Walk in Dublin. Childhood Cancer Ireland continues to be driven by parents and survivors and to advocate for better supports and services for families and better outcomes for children.
Michael Sheedy, President of Ennis Lions Club said “During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we will work with Childhood Cancer Ireland to bring our community in Clare together in solidarity with families affected by childhood cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death in children and adolescents around the world. Working with Childhood Cancer Ireland enables us to serve this community by shining a light on what it means to live with childhood cancer and to create awareness of the signs and symptoms to increase early detection.”
Similar to the pink ribbon for breast cancer a gold ribbon has been adopted as the symbol of support for childhood cancer. Ennis Lions will host a ‘Light It Up Gold’ walk through Ennis town starting at 6pm on Saturday, 16th September. At the start of the walk there will be information on the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer and on Childhood Cancer Ireland Services and their work in our local Oncology Units in UHL. Families will then walk through the town with lit candles to express solidarity and support for those who have childhood cancer in their midst. Facepainting, balloons and music will be part of the evening as we gather to celebrate our children who are ‘more precious than gold’ and acknowledge those who have passed from childhood cancer.
Laura Cullinan, CEO of Childhood Cancer Ireland, commented on the partnership between the organisations saying “To hear those words ‘your child has cancer’ is every parent’s worst nightmare. But for hundreds of families in Ireland, it is their reality and they are left feeling scared, isolated and alone. One of the greatest tools we have is the ability to reach out and to break through the isolation, to walk in solidarity with our families to show that their community is behind them. It is fitting that, 10 years after the first Light It Up Gold Walk, we will work in partnership with the Lions Club of Ireland to ensure that more families feel supported and less alone.”
Project leader Teresa Nash invited Clare families to join Ennis Lions Club on September 16th saying “This is a no fee, no fundraising FUN family event all about education, support and awareness raising. Everybody is welcome. It’s a short route – just 2.6km with a short cut for little legs if necessary”
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For further information contact:
Susan Ward, Marketing Officer, Ennis Lions Clubs. Sws.world@gmail.com 0861033195
Fionnuala Murphy, Childhood Cancer Ireland. Fionnuala.murphy@childhoodcancer.ie 087 4116925
Notes:
• Lions International is the world’s largest service organisation, with over 1.4 million members worldwide and a vision to be the global leader in humanitarian and community service.
• Lions International is represented by 93 Lions Clubs and 2,000 members throughout the island of Ireland.
• Lions Clubs in Ireland run 16 District service projects in the areas of diabetes, hunger/homelessness, vision and the environment as well as many initiatives supporting older persons, youth groups, carers and those in need in communities throughout Ireland and beyond.
• Childhood Cancer Ireland raises funds to provide a number of practical and emotional supports to children and families, including:
o Beads of Courage and Sibling Beads Programme at the National Children’s Cancer Service in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin.
o Refurbishment of paediatric oncology isolation rooms in Shared Care facilities (regional hospitals).
o A new series of workshops for parents in 2023, which will enable parents to process what they have been through since their child was diagnosed and to begin to heal.
o Parent peer support, which is a vital support to parents both during and after treatment.
