Over 200,000 people helped by the Irish Cancer Society last year

The Irish Cancer Society and Dell call on the Irish public to support Daffodil Day today, Friday, March 22nd.

The Irish Cancer Society and Dell are calling on the Irish public to join the fight against cancer and support Daffodil Day today, Friday 22nd March. All funds raised on the day will be used to fund the Society’s free nationwide care, information and support services for people with cancer and their families. Today over 4,000 volunteers will be on streets and in shopping centres in towns around the country selling fresh daffodils and daffodil pins aiming to raise €3.4million.  More people are availing of the Society’s services than ever before as more people in Ireland are diagnosed with cancer each year. One of the services the Dell supported Daffodil Day funds is the Society’s Cancer Information Service, which reached over 200,000 people in 2012. The service improves the lives of those affected by cancer in Ireland, providing information to empower them to make informed decisions about their treatment or help understand what a loved one is experiencing. It’s vital that Daffodil Day, supported by Dell, reaches its ambitious fundraising target of €3.4million in order to continue to provide and expand this service and others. 
 [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1688","field_deltas":{"1":{}},"link_text":null,"fields":{},"attributes":{"height":"480","width":"309","class":"media-image media-element file-media-large","data-delta":"1"}}]] The Society and Dell, lead partner for Daffodil Day, call on the public to help support the campaign today by making a donation to the Society. Here’s how you can support:

• Buy a daffodil or daffodil day merchandise from a volunteer
• Phone CallSave 1850 60 60 60 to donate
• Text Daff to 50300 to donate €4 (100% of your donation will go to the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day)
• Make a donation online  visit www.cancer.ie/daffodilday
• You can even buy a virtual daffodil on the Irish Cancer Society’s Facebook page
• Download our Daffodil Day smart phone app, available to download free from all app stores, and make a donation 

Funds raised on Daffodil Day by thousands of volunteers across Ireland go directly to providing information, care and support to those with, and affected by, cancer in Ireland. The Society’s Cancer Information Service is a key service funded by Daffodil Day and includes; seven Daffodil Centres based in hospitals nationwide with plans for seven more in the next two years; the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700), which also includes cancer chat, queries through email and social media; and a suite of booklets and leaflets. The services are free, confidential and available nationwide. Mark Mellett, Head of Fundraising, Irish Cancer Society said, “We want to see everyone wearing a daffodil pin today, showing their support for those living with cancer in Ireland. Unfortunately Irish cancer rates are increasing and while we expect over 26,000 people to be diagnosed with cancer this year we estimate that, by 2020, that figure will increase to 40,000. This is due to an ageing and increasing population, and a general neglect of healthy lifestyle behaviours. This is placing a massive demand on our services, which are funded entirely through voluntary contributions.”  Mr. Mellett continued, “We are hoping that the whole country will go yellow and get their daff on today! We have volunteers stationed all around the country ready to paint the town yellow and I hope that they get a warm reception from the public. Our volunteers are not paid and many take time off work to volunteer for Daffodil Day because they have been personally affected by cancer – and while the reason so many lend their support to Daffodil Day is an unhappy one – the day itself is a fun, bright and sunny day.” Liam Halpin, General Manager, Dell Ireland said: "The Dell team are passionate about supporting daffodil day. The numbers and statistics about those who are impacted by cancer each year are stark and unfortunately many of our own employees have been impacted by this disease or have known a friend or family member who has been impacted. We are delighted to be involved in the Irish Cancer Society’s largest fundraiser and hope that the support of our volunteers, our advertising and the development of the app will help the society reach its ambitious target of raising more than €3.4m. In addition to selling merchandise on the streets, our team will be wearing yellow today, will be selling daffodil day merchandise, will be hosting cake sales and participating in many other fundraising activities. We are calling on everyone to participate in some way. If you can’t reach a street seller then please download the Dell developed Daffodil Day app in order to make your contribution to this very worthy cause.” In 2010 Dell Ireland became the Irish Cancer Society’s lead partner for Daffodil Day. In addition to providing financial support Dell’s 2,500 employees in Dublin, Limerick and Cork 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. 
 [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1687","field_deltas":{"2":{}},"link_text":null,"fields":{},"attributes":{"height":"345","width":"480","class":"media-image media-element file-media-large","data-delta":"2"}}]]