The fourth annual Emer Casey Memorial 10K will take place on Sunday, May 23rd in Youghal, Co. Cork at 1.30pm.

Sunday May 23rd will see runners and walkers from the local region, Ireland and abroad partake in the fourth annual Emer Casey Memorial 10k. Muscle-toned, loose-limbed competitive athletes will mix with leisurely strollers and generate once again the unique ambience of this upbeat event.
By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey Youghalonline.com EMAIL: news@youghalonline.com

Some 12 hours earlier, an equivalent occasion will have unfolded 12,000 miles away in Melbourne, where participants will have shared the route with former Olympic silver medalist Sonia O’Sullivan. The Australian city is hosting its second Emer Casey memorial and is already considered a major event in the Victoria event and athletic calendar. Proceeds from the Australian fundraiser are designated for Melbourne’s world-renowned Peter MacCallum Cancer research centre.

In both locations, top performances will be recognised with perpetual trophies but the accent will focus primarily on fun. Each will reward participants with spot prizes, goody bags, t-shirts and one can’t rule out a bit of a laugh in the refreshment and shower arenas either if the truth be known!

The Youghal run will commence at 1.30pm from Pobalscoil na Trionoide over the established round course via the New Line, Strand and town centre. Participants are encouraged to register online for prime convenience @ www.emercaseyfoundation.com) but if need be can alternatively register at Pobalscoil either on the day from 11 am or from 3-5pm on the previous Saturday.

Details of the Melbourne event, from Monash University, Clayton Campus, are available online also, for anyone fancying a volcanic ash challenge as an extra bit of fun!

EMER CASEY FOUNDATION AT FOREFRONT OF OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH

By Christy Parker

The Emer Casey Foundation was established after ovarian/uterine cancer claimed the vibrant life of Emer in 1996. At 28, she was the youngest of five girls born to Brendan and Juliette Casey. Now internationally recognised as a major contributor to cancer research, the foundation finances studies aimed at providing early detection of the disease.

There are approximately 334 new cases of ovarian/uterine cancer diagnosed in Ireland every year, with an average fatality rate of two-thirds. It is the leading cause of death from gynaecological malignancy in the western world, yet Ireland still has no national risk assessment or genetic screening programme in place. It has been labelled ‘the silent killer’ as the vague symptoms often mean that by the time the cancer is diagnosed, the tumour has spread beyond the ovaries

Emer’s family, friends and work colleagues have transformed tragedy into a campaign to save others from the deadly affliction. Their cause is channeled through the Emer Casey Foundation, which the family, along with Emer’s former employers, Dublin-based solicitors Matheson Ormbsy Prentice, founded. Their commitment raised over €450,00 in four years and is inspired by the knowledge that a woman’s chances of surviving ovarian cancer increase from 15% to 80% with early diagnosis.

The foundation funds three PhD fellows to conduct research at the Dublin-based DISCOVARY consortium, which is comprised of several experts across various areas of cancer research. The fellowship focus on (a) protein signatures in early and recurrent ovarian cancer and (b) developing novel chemotherapy suitable for ovarian cancer patients.

Individual projects are linked through an ‘information pipeline’ to investigators at Dublin, Cork and Galway universities, as well as Dublin City University and TCD. The consortium also liaises with world-leading professors in America’s George Mason University Centre for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine and with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of California.

The DISCOVARY consortium’s research and reputation is thriving and last year, together with Dublin’s Dept of Histopathology (the microscopic examination of tissue relevant to the manifestations of disease), they acquired Ireland’s first high tech SOLID System Sequencing machine. Procuring this leading tool in the technology of genomic analysis positioned DISCOVARY as one of the world’s leading oncology research groups.

Battling ‘the silent killer’

In an Irish Times report some weeks ago, Prof John O’Leary, Director of Pathology at the Coombe and chairman of Pathology at Trinity College, explained that the Emer Casey fellowships are striving “to identify novel serum markers to detect early ovarian cancer and are also developing novel therapeutics for patients who no longer respond to chemotherapy.”

One student, ‘is investigating the effect of low oxygen in patients with ovarian cancer and its impact on the development of chemo-resistant cancer.’ A second ‘is investigating a unique signature protein which has been discovered in women with early and late ovarian cancer’ amidst hopes of developing a blood test to be used in early detection. A third student ‘is looking at markers in ovarian cancer cells which appear to drive chemo-resistance and to reduce significantly overall survival and disease-free survival.’

The report further referred to Dr Sam Coulter-Smith, Master of the Rotunda Hospital and a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. Dr. Coulter-Smith said ‘risk assessment services and genetic screening should be available to all women in a high-risk category.’ He too cited the dearth of formal ovarian cancer screening services in Ireland, which denies women at risk of developing the disease, the chance of avoidance or cure.

Breast and ovarian cancer are strongly linked, according to Dr. Coulter-Smith, who runs a risk assessment service for women with a strong family history of both cancers. He believes that women carrying one of the genetic mutations that cause ovarian cancer have, depending on the type of mutation, between a 20% and 80% per cent chance of developing the disease.’

The doctor says there is now a greater awareness that this ‘faulty gene’ can be inherited, with a consequential increase in the numbers seeking genetic screening. He is quoted as saying that ‘removing the ovaries, while they are still healthy reduces the risk to about 1%. However a major downside is that if a close relation developed the disease in their 50s or 60s, one would need to have one’s ovaries removed in their 40’s and go straight into menopause.’

Dr. Coulter-Smith further concludes that, ‘unfortunately the two presently known primary genetic mutations linked to ovarian cancer -BRCA-1 and BRCA-2- only account for about 25 per cent of mutations that cause genetic ovarian and breast cancer. So even with screening, only 25 per cent of faulty genes are identified.’ He advises people with two or more close relations who have had breast or ovarian cancer, to seek advice their GP’ advice as to whether they need to be referred to an ovarian screening service. Meanwhile a Sunday trip around Youghal or Melbourne on May 23rd can help to make that consultation less daunting for many.

Emer Casey Memorial 10k Run/Walk Youghal 2010

The fourth annual Emer Casey Memorial 10K will take place on Sunday, May 23rd in Youghal, Co. Cork at 1.30pm.
Race Details

The start line is at the Water Tower at the top of Cork Hill (beside Pobailscoil na Trionoide) and finishes at the front strand. There is ample parking space at the school. Buses will be available to transfer runners and walkers back to the school where showers and refreshments will be available.
Race Numbers

Race numbers will be available for collection at Pobalscoil Na Trionoide on Saturday May 22nd from 3-5pm or on Sunday May 23rd from 11am. We would recommend that you try to register on-line if possible as queues on race day can be quite long. Please note however that the on-line registration facility will terminate on Thursday, May 20th at 5pm.
Prizes

Perpetual Trophies will be awarded to the first male and first female athletes. There are numerous spot prizes up for grabs to the value of €500 not to mention a free goody bag and t-shirt to all finishers. Please ensure to include your name on the back of your race number to make sure you are in with a chance to win a prize!
Directions

Travelling from Waterford stay on the by pass and take the first exit for Youghal. Travelling from Cork take the second exit for Youghal.