Tyrrellspass gets on the move for Relay for Life

An overnight walk in support of the Irish Cancer Society is bringing a Westmeath community together for an event packed 24 hours.

Relay for Life Westmeath takes place in Tyrrellspass on Saturday September 20 and continues to Sunday September 21.

Relay For Life, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, is a 24-hour event bringing people together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember those who have been lost to cancer, and stand with those facing cancer.

Participants team up and take it in turns to walk through the day and night, so that someone is always on the move during the 24-hour period. “The idea is that we will walk for 24 hours, because as cancer never sleeps, neither will we,” organiser of the Tyrrellspass event, Daisy Carey, told the Westmeath Examiner.

For the event, teams join together for the continuous walk. Team members walk a designated distance or time, and someone from the team is on the move at all times in the 24-hour period.

When not walking, those taking part will socialise with friends, families and colleagues and enjoy live entertainment.

“The teams get together to work in shifts and continue the relay around the walking track. When not walking, they’re at the tents, there’s a real social element to the walk,” Daisy said.

The fundraiser is a joyous occasion: “It’s all about community spirit, getting as many people involved as possible, all working towards a common goal of raising money for cancer research and having a bit of fun along the way.”

Daisy explained why she arranged the Tyrrellspass event: “My own mum, Susan, was treated for cancer last year. We’d talked about how we’d love to bring Relay for Life to Westmeath.

“For years myself and my sister, Rose, danced at the Relay for Life in Offaly. We loved what it brought to the community. Last year, after mum hadn’t been well, we wanted to do our bit for cancer research.”

The Relay for Life is also about raising awareness: “I don’t think there’s any family nowadays that hasn’t in some way been touched by cancer. There’s always somebody, be it a loved one, a friend, a relative. The stats are so high for the number of people who get cancer. I think the Irish Cancer Society research says there’s nearly 10,000 deaths a year from cancer.

“We have to try to find any way we can to raise money for research and to give back and try and bring those stats down. Make it so more people survive because of research and treatment options.”

Daisy said the support in the build-up to September 20 has been overwhelming: “Once we got the word out people came together to help.

“We hope that will continue on the day and they come and just put some money in a bucket. Enjoy the entertainment on the day, there’s going to be games going on, and there’s going to be food.

“We’re not expecting everyone to commit to 24 hours. But if they come for an hour, we would love to see them. It’s all for a very worthy cause.”

The Carey family experience has been the inspiration for the Tyrrellspass gathering: “When mum went through her treatment we saw the work the nurses and other staff did to reassure her and make her more comfortable. I have had other family members who I’ve lost to cancer, and I’ve seen the work that the Irish Cancer Society does with things like providing the night nurses.

“If we didn’t have it, we’d be lost without it. Not just the option of night nursing, but equally transport, the chemo bus to their treatments.”

An important part of the walk is the Candle of Hope ceremony, where hundreds of candle bags that have been personalised with messages of hope and remembrance, are lit during a moving ceremony involving music and speeches.

Honouring cancer survivors will take a central role in the event: “They will get to chat to other people going through that same experience. Our survivors will be treated as our VIPs for the weekend.

“There’s a special lap for them at the beginning, they get a special purple T-shirt specifically for them. They’ll have a special yoga class, we’re really trying to include wellness as a part of it.”

“Our candle bags will be displayed all around the track. They will remember the loved ones lost to cancer, and celebrating our survivors,” Daisy concluded.