Daffodil Day volunteers out today, Friday

Marie Toole is one of more than 100 local Daffodil Day volunteers who will be out in force in Mullingar and surrounding areas today, Friday March 22, for the Irish Cancer Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

For Marie and a number of other local volunteers who have survived cancer, Daffodil Day is a chance to give something to help the work done by the Irish Cancer Society (ICS).

“Having been through cancer myself and having recovered from the diagnosis, I decided I wanted to be able to contribute in some way to help in the fight against cancer, given that I was one of the fortunate ones to have survived,” said Marie.

“I started as a street collector for Daffodil day in 2009, and I took over the running of the fundraising activity for the Mullingar area in 2010.

“You never know what you are facing with cancer. 

“Today you’re a volunteer, tomorrow you may be at the receiving end of the counselling or other supports and services provided by the ICS.”

As more people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before (over 40,000 a year), the ICS are experiencing a greater demand for their services.

With only two percent of their funding coming from the state, donations from the public are crucial to help the organisation keep up with demand for their services.

The local committee together with businesses and traders are planning to make this Daffodil Day the best yet with fresh daffodils, balloons and posters on display creating, what one committee member described as a “fanfare of yellow colour” throughout the town.

“More than 100 volunteers will be located throughout the town of Daffodil Day selling daffodil pins, silks, badges, and fresh daffodils and we hope that everyone will give generously to this worthy cause,” a committee spokesperson said.

See cancer.ie for more details on the day.