Mullingar woman raises €8,500 for LARCC with Christmas Day swim
Mary Greene, who raised €8,550 for LARCC with a Christmas Day swim, decided to do it in honour and memory of her daughter Michelle, who lived with cancer for two years
The Mullingar lady said the swim gave her something to focus on during what was a difficult Christmas without Michelle, and she wanted to raise funds for LARCC as i"it is a fantastic service providing support to people living with cancer".
Bernie McHugh of LARCC met Mary and some of her family and friends at Lough Owel to accept the funds raised, and to have photos taken (at a safe distance) to acknowledge the efforts they had put in.
Bernie thanked Mary and her loyal group most sincerely for choosing LARCC and assured them that the large amount raised will go a long way to helping LARCC to continue to offer its services free of charge to people affected by cancer.
Mary, in turn, wants to thank everyone for their kindness and support on the day, those who donated so generously and people who filled sponsorship cards.
She had a big thank-you to Kerrigans for supplying coffee and the team who organised the hot tea, which went down particularly well after the swim. Mary also expressed her gratitude to the children in First Class at Gaelscoil An Mhuilinn and their múinteoir, who helped them design lovely signs to cheer everyone on.
Mary did not swim alone, and she saved a very special thank-you for all the brave people who joined her for the Christmas dip, pointing out that it was so much easier to have the support of her friends and family on the day.
LARCC would like to remind everyone that despite the pandemic restrictions meaning the doors are closed at the centre in Multyfarnham, almost all of its professional support services are available remotely for cancer patients and their families to avail of, including counselling and nurse support.
These services are available to people who find themselves in need of emotional and psychological support while dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Alongside offering a range of one-to-one support services, LARCC also hosts a number of group supports, including evidence based survivorship programmes aimed at providing information and teaching practical skills on how to manage healthcare and give people the confidence and motivation they need to manage the challenges of living day to day with a cancer diagnosis.
These will also be delivered online in the coming months.
LARCC services are run by a dedicated team of nurses, therapists and counsellors and 80 per cent of the annual operating budget of some €280,000 has to be raised through fundraising events, and donations from the public and business community.
If you would like to find out more about the free cancer support services on offer (remotely for now) from LARCC, please call the Centre on 044 9371971 or visit the website cancersupport.ie. Or find us on Facebook @LARCCcancersupportcentre.