www.cancer.ie

Thank you so much for the wonderful news that Irish Life Investment  Managers will be undertaking this fundraising project on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society.  We are thrilled to be working with you and the ILIM staff and we look forward to assisting you in any way we can. 

The fundraising that is generated will be split between two programmes here at the Irish Cancer Society. 

50% of the funds will support our Night Nursing Programme.  This programme provided more than 5,700 nights of care for more than 1,600 patients nationwide in 2008.  The Irish Cancer Society provides a Night Nursing service for critically ill patients with cancer in their home. This service is vital to relieve the difficulties that families experience during this time. Night Nursing allows the patient to remain at home, thereby maintaining the continuity of care that the patient has experienced, surrounded by their family and supported by the home care team. Night Nurses sit with the patient through the night, providing nursing care, practical support and reassurance. The Night Nursing service has now been extended to cover patients with cancer during stages other than terminal illness e.g. respite care. This allows the family time to rest and take a break from their very demanding caring role. Night nurses are provided free of charge for up to 10 nights.

The other 50% of the funds will support a new research programme examining the role of nutritional and lifestyle factors on cancer prevention.  The research programme would be workplace based and would look at improvements in risk factors by staff that participate in workplace intervention programmes.  The position for research would be funded by ILIM and the Irish Cancer Society’s workplace intervention “Healthy for Business” would be attached to analyze effectiveness and trends.  The Irish Cancer Society’s research arm, Cancer Research Ireland, would look after the creation of this programme and the awarding of this grant.

Thank you again for all your support and we look forward to working with you this year.