The Affiliation Award at the Irish Cancer Society Conference in Dublin on 3rd March 2012

Included in the photo are John McCormack, Angela Kirrane, Joe Staunton, Padraig O’Cheidigh

A major fundraising venture organised by Janet Durkan in support of Mayo Cancer Support took place on Easter Monday, 9th April.  Sincere  thanks to all braved the elements to walk, run or cycled from Murrisk to Louisburgh. A great day was had by all, with refreshments serrved at the end of the journey.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD cuts the tape to officially launch the “Rock Rose House Treatment and Therapy Centre” at 32  St Patrick’s Avenue, Castlebar, included in photo from left John McCormack, CEO Irish Cancer Society;  Joe Staunton, Chairman Mayo Cancer Support Association;  Cllr Eugene McCormack, Mayor Castlebar Town Council;  Joe Johnston, Patron of the Association and Angela Kirrane, Manager of Services Rock Rose House, Castlebar, Partly hidden are Seamus Moran, Tommy Ginley and John Tiernan.

To provide emotional and practical help to people with cancer, their families & friends.

The Organisation is 12 years in existence.  Over the past three years we have had an average of 150 referrals per year and an average of 1,500 attendances per year for various services.

The services provided from the Centre are:

• Professional Counselling Service
• Drop in Listening Service 5 days per week from 9.30-5.00pm
• Complementary Therapies such as Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Manual Lymph Drainage, Bra/Prosthesis
• Support Groups – Men’s Group, Bereavement Support, Stress Management.
• Group Therapies – Yoga, Mindfulness, Writing, Art, Social Events, Style & Image.

All services are provided free of Charge.  We are a voluntary Organisation made up of a Management Committee, Manager and a trained staff supported by volunteers. 

Mayo Cancer Support is Affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society.

Always open to the idea of developing new support services to meet the needs of people.    Referrals come from the hospitals, G.P’s, Public Health Nurses and self referral.    For therapies we require consent from the G.P. or Consultant.  We are hoping that we will encourage more people to avail of the services on offer.  It is an established fact that support such as complementary therapies, counselling and peer support help in recovery and support the family during illness.

We have a close working relationship with Mayo General Hospital and other hospitals.  We receive funding from the HSE, the Irish Cancer Society and the Family Support Agency.  However our Main income comes from the public.

Curves, Fitness & Weight Management Club presenting a cheque for €1,200 to Breege Walsh of Mayo Cancer Support, Rock Rose House. The money was collected during October Cancer Awareness Month.

Amy Kenny and Carol Devaney Castlebar, presenting cheque for €518  to Eugene Connolly and Tommy Ginley, of  Mayo Cancer Suport Rock Rose House, Castlebar, proceeds of “FlashMob” fundraising.

Pictured at a recent meeting of the Management Committee
Left to Right Back Row: Seamus Moran, Mary McDonagh, Helen Rose, John Tiernan, Angela Kirrane- Manager of Services, and Tommy Ginley. Left to Right Front Row. Finola O’Heala, Anne Duffy, Joe Staunton, Florence Devane, Eugene Connolly. Missing from photo: Joe Johnston and Enda McDonagh. 

The members of the committe come with a wide range of experience which will be of great benefit to the Association.  Joe Staunton is a retired Superintendant of the Garda Siochanna and he works with the Mental Health Commission and the Diocesan Safeguarding Children Committee.  Eugene Connolly worked with the HSE as the Senior Administrator until his retirement earlier this year.  Mr. Joe Johnston is a retired Conultant Surgeon from Mayo General Hospital. Enda McDonagh is past President of Castlebar Lions Club and is currently Manager at Bank of Ireland, Castlebar.  The Association is fortunate that all the other members have a long association with Mayo Cancer Support and in some cases are founder members.  All of them have been affected by cancer in some way and are committed to supporting all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. The service continues to go from strength to strength and is available free of charge, Monday to Friday.  A Professional counselling service, A Drop In Listening Service, Complementary Therapies, Workshops and Relaxation activities are on offer. An outreach service is provided from the Family Support Centre in Ballina on Tuesday mornings from 10 to 1 p.m.
For further details on any of the services please contact Mayo Cancer Support Association at 094 90 38407

Marcella had her hair shaved at Tesco Castlebar on Friday 8th July to raise funds for Mayo Cancer Support Association.  Marcella, together with her friends and neighbours entertained the customers, staff and management with live music, craic and drama culminating in the raising of €3,005.00. 

Mayo Cancer Support Association sincerely thanks Marcella and her family for this brave gesture undertaken with great dignity and regard for all those affected by cancer.

They said “So many of our friends are affected by cancer, we feel we have to do something”  And do something they did.  Their fundraising idea was aptly called “Banter to Fight Cancer” They walked the walk and talked the talk, had their hair shaved, legs, chests waxed, visited businesses, wrote letters and went door to door to maximise the effect of their campaign.  They took buckets, bibs, got permits and in the process they entertained and delighted the people of Castlebar with a day and night of fun, music, good food and above all support and empathy to all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. 

They raised a whopping €13,500.00 for Mayo Cancer Support Association, Rock Rose House so that all those who need the support and care offered can be guaranteed this service free of charge.   While they move on to their respective colleges and places of employment we are left with a feeling of encouragement in the work that we do for patients, families and friends affected by cancer and we will cherish this into the future.

Presenting a  Cheque for €13,500 to Joe Staunton Chairperson Mayo Cancer Support Association, from left  Laura Gibbons, Partry, Sinead O’Donohue, Castlebar; Susan Timothy,  Breaffy, Paul Heneghan, Breaffy,  Joe Staunton Chairperson Mayo Cancer Support Association, Katie Tuohy, Castlebar, Ita Heneghan Breaffy and  Angela Kirrane, Manager of Services Rock Rose House, Castlebar