Global Hero of Hope, Majella O’Donnell, has called on more teams to participate in this year’s Relay for Life after questioning the fall-off in support for last year’s event.
Pointing to the gaps that existed at the ATU campus in Letterkenny in 2022, she told the launch of this year’s Relay: “I felt very sorry. It was almost like, should we just give up and walk away?”.
Recalling the very first Relay for Life in 2012 when the turnout had been “fantastic”, Ms O’Donnell said she wasn’t going to dress up the situation as there had been a significant fall-off in participation last year.
“I find it hard to understand where that support has gone. I don’t know if they thought that was it, just raise money for that year because it’s not. It’s ongoing and we need to do our bit every single year.”
Urging people to rally around and “get on that pitch” on June 3 and 4, the Global Hero of Hope called on more teams from around the county to organise for this year’s event.
“Not only does it bring in more money but it’s absolutely empowering and uplifting when you go to the campus and see so many stands,” said Ms O’Donnell, herself a cancer survivor.
Reflecting on her own diagnosis in 2013, she said she could see the difference fund-raising for research had done since then.
“It’s now 2023 and everything has been good for me so far. What was provided ten years ago is almost archaic now in terms of treatment for cancer. It’s changing all the time and survival and treatment rates are improving all the time but we have to keep on top of it.”
She called on business concerns and clubs and other bodies to organise teams and to spread the word.
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