The Irish Cancer Society launches the most colourful fundraising event - Colour Dash 2024
Ambassador Anna Daly and the Grant family from Meath urge the public to support children & young adults affected by cancer
The Irish Cancer Society is excited to announce that Colour Dash is back! The most colourful event in this year’s calendar, Colour Dash will take place on Sunday, 30th June in the Phoenix Park at 9.30am.
Ambassador Anna Daly and the Grant Family from Ratoath, Meath- Tommy (5) and his mum Róisín are urging walkers, joggers and runners of all ages to inject some colour into summer 2024 and sign-up for the colour-soaked 5K fun run. As ‘dashers’ run, jog and walk the course, at each kilometre, they are showered from head to toe in a different colour of powder paint. To take part, please sign up today at cancer.ie/colourdash
All donations raised will be used to fund the Irish Cancer Society's Children and Young Adolescents (CAYA) support services with thousands of participants expected to take part again this year.
Launching Colour Dash 2024, Róisín, mum to Tommy, said: “Colour Dash is a great way to help support children and young adults affected by cancer. It’s a special event that is less about speed and more about a fun, colour-filled day that all the family can enjoy.
“We are so grateful for the free supports provided by the Irish Cancer Society. When Tommy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in 2021, I remember the huge expense that was involved. Our family’s lives were put on hold to be by Tommy’s bedside in hospital in Dublin. I would never have thought about the expenses involved with going in and out of hospital before that. Nobody really knows about it until you go through it. You have your bills at home that you have to deal with as well.
The Irish Cancer Society’s Children’s Fund helped ease the financial burden of his treatment and care. This support was invaluable at a really difficult time in our family’s life. I would encourage everyone to please sign up for Colour Dash 2024 and get involved today.”
Colour Dash ambassador Anna Daly said: “We all know someone who has been affected by cancer, my own father Noel has gone through his own cancer diagnosis, so I know the impact it can have on a family. I cannot imagine how devastating it must be to learn your child has been diagnosed with cancer.
“The supports and services that the Irish Cancer Society provides help ease the burden of it all, during what must be an incredibly overwhelming time. Colour Dash is a fantastic opportunity for families to enjoy a fun day out together, while supporting children, adolescents, and young adults affected by cancer in Ireland.”
Sinead Gillespie, National Fundraising Lead at the Irish Cancer Society, said: “Every year in Ireland, around 200 children and 180 young adults are diagnosed with cancer. All our cancer research and vital free services like our Support Line, activity camps, In-hospital support, counselling, financial grants, complementary therapies and Night Nursing are fuelled by fundraising. We only receive 5% of our income from the Government so it’s thanks to your support on days like Colour Dash that we can continue to be there for every child and young adult affected by cancer in Ireland.
Sign up now at cancer.ie/colourdash as spaces for Colour Dash are limited and expected to sell out this year. Registration is €35 per adult, €25 for teenagers (13-17 years) and €10 for children 12 and under.
About Colour Dash:
•Participants run, walk or jog a 5k route marked out within the Phoenix Park. Throughout the Colour Dash you will be showered with coloured power paint.
•The colouring used is 100% organic and natural. You will receive a white Colour Dash t-shirt on arrival, but please do wear old light-coloured clothes.
•Don't wear anything that you want to remain white! If you have bleached hair, we would recommend covering it as the colours can take a few washes to come out.
