The Oesophageal Cancer Fund is the national charity for Oesophageal Cancer in Ireland and was set up in 2002 by a Dublin woman, Lucilla Hyland – who lost her life with the cancer that year.
The charity has been promoted since by a group of her friends and is now an annual and nationwide campaign.
Their motivating force was and still is to raise awareness of and money for research into oesophageal cancer.
Flying the Flag
Lynch’s Pharmacy at Lower Main Street Castleisland flies the flag for the charity in this area each year and with the enthusiastic assistance of local Transition Year students from the surrounding parishes attending Castleisland based schools.
The community college will be at Centra today and Bernie Hogan will be there this afternoon from 2pm.
Or you can ‘pop’ into the pharmacy and buy your pop and make your donation that way.
Aims and Attitude
Lollipop Day volunteers sell lollipops at just €2 each throughout the country to raise funds for Lollipop Day.
The aims and attitude of the charity is to bring the good fight to a bad cancer by providing a three-pronged, desperately needed service:
“We increase awareness of related symptoms to promote early diagnosis; We raise funds to support breakthrough research into its causes and potential cures and We find inventive ways to meet the specific ongoing needs of anyone living with this difficult cancer,” according to the charity mission statement.
Anything to Raise Awareness
While Lollipop Day is all about raising funds for research and assisting people with oesophageal cancer, Castleisland Pharmacist, Aileen Lynch believes that raising awareness levels of the symptoms and early intervention is also of major importance.
“Anything that raises the awareness levels of the cancer can only be a good thing and that’s why we are helping out with the Lollipop Day campaign again this year.
“It’s on all day today Friday and Saturday.
“We got great help and encouragement from the local Transition Year students over the last few years and their enthusiasm is only fantastic – and they are helping out again in the 2020 campaign.
Local Support Vital
Keep an eye out for the Lollipop Day collectors on Friday and Saturday and, if you can, do please ‘pop’ something in the collection box.
“The support of the every locality is vital in this battle and we really do appreciate the support we get every year in Castleisland and from our neighbouring villages,” said Aileen.
To find out more about Lollipop Day you can click on the link: http://www.lollipopday.ie
