Children’s cancer charity seeks State funding for new Mayo therapeutic centre

Cancer Fund For Children (CFFC) has today called on the government to help build a new therapeutic short break centre in Cong for children with cancer and their families.

Mayo Oireachtas members have been provided with an overview of the charity’s plans, the need for support and the important role elected representatives and institutions have in helping to ‘ensure no child has to face cancer alone’.

The CFFC mission is to ensure that every child diagnosed with cancer and their family has access to emotional and social support regardless of where they live in Ireland.

It has advanced plans to build a therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge, in Cong.

Every year in Ireland on average 340-360 young people aged 0-24 receive a cancer diagnosis, a cancer diagnosis affects the whole family.

Sixteen-year-old Alex McEleney from Baldoyle in North Dublin spoke about his cancer journey and why the work of CFFC is so important to children and families like his.

The charity currently operate a Daisy Lodge therapeutic centre in Newcastle, Co Down but is only able to offer one in seven families therapeutic respite.

It also has a Cancer Support Specialist in place in CHI at Crumlin.

This service is being delivered in partnership with the Katie Nugent Fund, which was established within the Children’s Health Foundation to provide psychological and emotional support for the children on St John’s Ward in Crumlin, and their families, throughout the period of their treatment.

CFFC is also currently recruiting a team of four cancer support specialists who will be based in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Cavan/Westmeath supporting young people and families in the community and at home through informal therapeutic support.