Irish Cancer Society asks employees to show they ‘care’ this March in aid of Daffodil Day

Apprentice Ireland Judge Brian Purcell with the help of Dell employees launched the Irish Cancer Society’s employee led fundraising campaign ‘Our Company Cares’ as part of the Society’s annual Daffodil Day. This year Daffodil Day, supported by Dell, takes place across the country on Friday, 23rd March.

The Society, Dell, lead partners for Daffodil Day, and Brian Purcell are encouraging employees in businesses and corporate sectors across the country to think of creative and fun ways of raising funds in their workplace throughout March. Activities can include organising cake sales and coffee mornings, turning workplaces yellow, desk cleaning amongst others.

Funds raised through ‘Our Company Cares’ will go directly to providing free cancer information and nursing services. This includes the Society’s free home based night nursing service to seriously ill cancer patients. Last year the Irish Cancer Society night nurses provided over 8,000 nights of care to 2,014 patients in their own home across Ireland in 2011.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Our Company Cares’, John McCormack, CEO, Irish Cancer Society said, “The pressure and demand for our services is increasing year on year especially in the wake of ever increasing cancer numbers. Latest data shows that approximately 30,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Ireland in 2011 and cancer will affect one in three of us during our lifetime.

Corporate partnerships and employee fundraising activities help to make a real and significant impact on the Irish Cancer Society’s ability to continue to provide services and support to people affected by cancer in Ireland. We are very grateful for the support given by employees throughout every level of an organisation and the innovative and creative ways they are prepared to go to in order to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.”

The overall target for Daffodil Day 2012 has been set at €3.5million. The challenge this year is to recruit at least 200 companies, to take part in the ‘Our Company Cares’ campaign.

Speaking today Caroline Grant, HR Director, Dell Ireland said: “We are delighted to be the official partner to the Irish Cancer Society for Daffodil Day. This is the second year of our involvement and I can truly say that our partnership on Daffodil Day has had a huge impact on our 2,300 employees here in Ireland. Last year, the company went ‘Daffodil’ crazy for three months in the build-up to the big day. We helped to make Daffodils, we baked daffodil cakes, we sold daffodils and we wore yellow! We’re already well progressed with our plans for this year and looking forward to the big day. ‘Our Company Cares’ is a great initiative and I hope companies around the country will support this year’s Daffodil Day campaign as much as they can.’

Also speaking at the launch, Brian Purcell said, “I’m delighted to help launch this innovative campaign and to want encourage businesses all over Ireland to think of fun ways to raise vital funds for cancer care. Remember when it is more fun and imaginative then it becomes more engaging and encourages more awareness in the workplace and beyond into workers' families, friends and communities".

In 2010 Dell Ireland became the Irish cancer Society’s lead partner for Daffodil Day for a three year period until 2013. In addition to providing financial support Dell’s 2,300 employees are supporting the campaign by volunteering time and expertise to the Irish Cancer Society in the lead up to Daffodil Day and on the day itself.