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Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk 2013 – NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO
SUN SHINES ON PINK RIBBON WALKERS!
The sun was beating down on the twin towns of Killaloe Ballina, Sunday June 9th, as walkers from all over the country made their annual trek to the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk. The setting on the shores of Lough Derg was spectacular as over six hundred people bedecked in pink came together to raise funds for Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society. Bra bunting decorated the bridge, the two towns were covered in pink flags and balloons, and residents on the picturesque route through the Clare hills were out in force handing sweets and drinks to everyone taking part.
Pink Ribbon Walk – Album 2
PHOTOS BY DOLF PATIJN FOR ILOVELIMERICK.COM 2013. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. STANDARD DISCLAIMER – Sharing of images online by ILoveLimerick.com in no way licences the use of said images without the express Agreement from ILoveLimerick.com.
Since the inaugural Pink Ribbon Walk in Kells, County Meath in 2009 the event has grown across Ireland with Killaloe joining in 2010 and Kinsale in 2012. Barbara McMahon, the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk ambassador, expressed her heartfelt thanks to all who turned up to walk, to support and to cheer along the route. The amount raised on the day was in excess of €50,000 with more sponsorship expected to come in over the next four weeks.
Chairperson of the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk, Nicola Wood added, “It was an inspiring day, with breast cancer survivors walking alongside breast cancer sufferers, young walking with old, sons and daughters walking with mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles walking with nieces and nephews, everyone walking with friends. It was a very humbling experience, and also a great sign of strength and solidarity. All of us joined together to raise awareness, offer support and raise funds to hopefully help find a cure for breast cancer” Nicola added “Women have a one in ten chance of developing breast cancer – the most common cancer in the country, by taking part in a Pink Ribbon Walk, you have helped to raise funds for Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society that supports vital services.”
Those services include the National Cancer Freefone Helpline (1800 200 700) staffed by specialist cancer care nurses, available to speak to anyone concerned about cancer or who require more information. In 2011, specialist cancer nurses supported 22,120 callers to the National Cancer Helpline. A total of 741 of these calls came from the Mid West region of Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
The Irish Cancer Society is the largest voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland. Funding world class research for better diagnostics and treatments will ensure that people diagnosed with cancer will have access to the best science available. Over the last 30 years Irish Cancer Society research has made over 650 discoveries. In 2011 the Irish Cancer Society invested €3.1m in cancer research projects across the country, with about €900,000 going to breast cancer research projects.
The Irish Cancer Society’s advocacy service provides a voice for women with breast cancer in Ireland, while financial assistance is also available for those experiencing difficulties as a result of their cancer diagnosis. Other vital services include: health promotion, providing community and workplace programmes on breast cancer awareness and early detection; night nursing for critically ill patients – 8,110 nights of care was provided to 2,014 families in 2011, 996 nights of which were provided to the mid-west region; booklets and factsheets – over 688,266 cancer information booklets and factsheets to people concerned about cancer across the country in 2011 with 58,553 distributed in the Mid-West region.
Funds raised through Pink Ribbon Walks also go towards funding the Physical Activity Programme for Breast Cancer Survivors. There is compelling evidence to suggest that physical activity after diagnosis and treatment reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
The Killaloe committee wish to thank everyone who took part, either as a walker or as part of a wonderful team of volunteers; all the management and staff at The Lakeside Hotel; the very generous sponsors Technopath, Specsavers Limerick, Specsavers Nenagh, Spin SW, Derg Business Alliance, ARRA Communications (kbo broadband), Queallys Supervalu, Fionnuisce, Scoops, AES, Atlantic Cabins and Containers, Molly’s, McKeoghs Foodmarket, Meskell Motorcycles, the Greene Room), Killaloe Garda Siochana, Killaloe Coastguard, Order of Malta and Killaloe Fire Brigade. “A special thank you must also go to all the local businesses and residents who have supported us year on year and who helped turn the route and our two towns of Killaloe and Ballina pink for the day,” said Nicola.
The next walk is in Kells, on September 8th 2013. For more information on the Pink Ribbon Walks in Ireland please visit our website www.pinkribbonwalk.ie and follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/pinkribbonwalk. If anyone has any questions or concerns about breast cancer please contact the National Cancer Freefone Helpline on 1800 200 700 or visit www.cancer.ie.
Pink Ribbon Walk – Album 1
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