The www.thebutterflycompany.ie are holding a fundraiser for Youghal Cancer Support Group on Friday 16th September 2011 at the Walter Raleigh Hotel in Youghal. The Butterfly Company will perform their wonderful production “DECADES” to help raise funds and awareness for the charity.

Watch the Youghal Cancer Support Group Facebook for more information on the forthcoming event in the Walter Raleigh Hotel. Click her to visit www.thebutterflycompany.ie

THE SECOND ANNUAL PINK RIBBON MEMORIAL WALK took place on Sunday the 28th August 2011. The walkers met at the Market Square in the centre of town before travelling a circut of the town, behind the Youghal Cancer Support Group banner carried by committee members. Approaching Green Park they were met by lone piper Emma McCarthy from the Youghal Pipe Band, who played a lament as the walkers assembled at the band stand for a short prayer service with Canon Tom Browne PP and Rev. Patrick Hewitt.

A prayer for cancer victims was then read:
What Cancer cannot do.

Cancer is so limited………………….
It cannot cripple LOVE. It cannot shatter HOPE.
It cannot corrode FAITH. It cannot destroy PEACE.
It cannot kill FRIENDSHIP.
It suppress MEMORIES.
It cannot silence COURAGE. It cannot invade the SOUL.
I cannot conquer the SPIRIT.
It cannot steal ETERNAL LIFE.

After the service the walkers,wearing pink ribbons and pink t-shirts set off pink balloons into the sky to remember and express moral support for those with cancer.

The Youghal Cancer Support Group would like to thank to everyone who took part in the pink ribbon walk, you support is always welcome and appreciated!

*Fresh form their sell out tour The Butterfly Company will be performing a fundraiser for the Youghal Cancer Support Group in the Walter Raleigh Hotel on the 16th of Sep 2011 at 8pm, more details to follow shortly!*

THE SECOND ANNUAL PINK RIBBON MEMORIAL WALK will take place on Sunday the 28th Aug at 2.30 from Market Square Youghal. The walk organised by the Youghal Cancer Support Group will go through the town,  down the back street and ending in Green Park with a short service dedicated to all those who have lost their lives or are living with cancer. A lament will be played by piper Michael McCarthy from the Youghal Pipe Band.

No sponsorship cards are needed to take part, donations can be made on the day! We would also ask that as many of you as possible wear Pink. The service will be celebrated by Canon Browne and Reverend  Hewitt. We will also be releasing pink and white balloons. Anyone that would like to purchase one of the specially printed T-Shirts can do so on the Friday or by contacting 087-2731121. They are 7 euros each

The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons, and the color pink in general, identify the wearer or promoter with the breast cancer brand and express moral support for women with breast cancer.

Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Commerce is to appeal to An Bord Pleanala against Cork County Council’s decision to allow a sludge treatment plant Eras Eco to process hazardous waste. The company, based on a 3.5 acre site at Foxhole, recently acquired planning permission for ‘a €10m upgrade to the existing sludge drying process’ to enable it accept  hazardous wastes.

The planning permission also allows ‘for parking for vehicles/tankers/trailer during the sample testing period of hazardous waste contents prior to dispatching for treatment’ and ‘the erection/construction of above ground anaerobic digested tanks for the treatment of sludge and the production of methane gas, which will be utilised to produce electricity for use on site.’  The Integrated Waste Management Facility development will treat a maximum of 95,000 tonnes of waste annually, a reduction of 15,000 tonnes on the present allowance.

Chamber of Commerce director Michael Farrell claims the planning conditions will allow residue to bypass the council’s waste water treatment facility and “be distributed directly into the Blackwater.” He says “what will be transported into town” will jeopardise economic and tourism development. “We are trying to promote tourism and create employment and having this, especially adjacent to a business park, is certainly not conducive to thee aims.”

A spokesman for Eras Eco says the company “expected the appeal.” He says the Chamber “took a closed view and made it very clear they don’t want us in town,” during a failed negotiation attempt. Denying the expansion will impact negatively on Youghal, the spokesman says AquaCritox, an advanced oxidation technology, will provides 100% destruction of waste and convert it into clean water, without generating odours, or harmful emissions. Residues, he says, will be fed into the sewer system and then through a new council waste water treatment facility awaiting development.  The company will be amongst the first to employ the system, which was the subject of glowing tribute in an Irish Times report last February by Barry McCall.

Eras Eco currently employs six full-time and four part/time staff and claims the expanded operation will create ten more jobs along with a further 20 in construction. The plant commenced operations as AVR Environmental Solutions in 2006. It was acquired by Eras Eco in 2009 and has licence to process up to 110,000 tons of non-hazardous waste and industrial sludge from waste water treatment plants, says the company. Eras Eco is registered under Ormonde Organics, Portlaw.

Youghal Town and County Councillor Barbara Murray says the expansion will compromise Youghal’s image as “a family-orientated, holiday resort,” a standing augmented by three blue flag beaches. The town has suffered a decade of chronic job losses and the councillor sees dark irony in a seaside town “being expected to accept hazardous waste outside while we’re neither an industrial centre nor on the IDA’s radar. Why not treat the waste at source?,” she asks.

 

The proceeds of the recent CRY 104fm/Youghal Cancer Support Group Radiothon were distributed on Thursday night, 23rd June, at a small function in Bertie’s Bar. The Radiothon ran for 50 hours from 10am on Friday 27th May to midday on Sunday 29th May, with CRY broadcasting constantly throughout and street collections manned by volunteers from the Youghal Cancer Support Group and CRY.

The public and local businesses responded brilliantly and the event  – which was a joint fundraiser for both organisations – raised  a total of €2,912.92. Youghal’s new Mayor, Councillor Eoin Coyne officiated at the function, which was attended by, CRY Board member, Barty Murphy, station staff and volunteers along with Youghal Cancer Support Group Chairperson, Therese O’Connell, together with Pauline Scully, Diane Irwin and Susan Kenefick, all of Youghal Cancer Support Group.

Chairperson, Therese O’Connell accepted a cheque for €1,500 on behalf of  Youghal Cancer Support Group from CRY Station Manager, Declan Gibbons. Therese thanked all involved in organising the event, CRY presenters, volunteers from both organisations and, most importantly, all who supported the Radiothon in any way.

Declan Gibbons accepted a cheque for €1,412 on behalf of CRY, representing the station’s share of the proceeds. He paid tribute to CRY Community Development Officer, Darragh Parker – whose brainchild the Radiothon was – for his tireless effort and organisation, which ensured that the event was such a success.

He thanked Noel Mackey and The FitzPatrick family for the use of the premises in 138 North Main Street; Luigi From the Rendezvous Restaurant who kept the presenters well fed throughout the Marathon; Scotts, Cunninghams Butchers , Absolute Flowers , Team Bailey ,Super Valu , Flavins Grocery shop, Permanent TSB and  Team M mens Salon for spot prizes and Donations.

Declan also thanked The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for their permission to broadcast around the clock, without which the Radiothon could not have taken place. He thanked the Gardai for granting the station a permit to collect in public places, all the volunteers from the Youghal Cancer Support Group and CRY presenters and volunteers.

Most of all, he thanked everyone who gave so generously during the 27th, 28th and 29th of May.

 

THE YOUGHAL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP held an innovative fundraising night on Saturday night, June 11th in the local Rugby Club.  The theme of the night was a GiGi’s Reunion and the turnout and support for the event was fantastic.

Therese O’Connell, Chairwomen of the Youghal Cancer Support Group told The East Cork Journal that they are so grateful to everyone for their help, and in particular would like to thank Marie and Karlaigh Trihy for coming up with the great idea for this fundraiser.   Marie worked tirelessly over the past few months to make sure that it was a great success. To her sister, Eleanor and Tara O’Connell, for helping to get things organised and for all their hard work.

A big thank you to DJ’S Mossie Tatten and Fergal Coleman for giving their services free of charge and helping to bring the musical memories of GIGI’S back. The Date Auction was different, innovative and needed courage to enter, so thanks to all who did. They were indeed very brave! The MISS GIGI’S competition was a great success and congratulations to popular winner, Silvia Flaherty, who was crowned Miss GiCi 2011.  The worthy runner up Vickie O’Shea. To everyone who sponsored prizes for the night, we are very grateful.    A special thank you to Youghal Rugby Club for their kind permission to use their great venue which was superb.

 

To all who came along to support our fundraising drive for Youghal Cancer Support Group, we must say a huge THANK YOU.  Without your support, the night would not have been the great success it was.   We do appreciate it.

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GiGis Reunion Night in aid of The Youghal Cancer Group

YES we are bringing back Gigis, well sort of!! The Rugby Club will be hosting a’ Gigis reunion’ night in aid of The Youghal Cancer Support Group on the 11th of June. It promises to be a fantastic night with Gigis Djs and Bouncers ,the classic songs we all loved to dance to and the night wouldn’t be the same without the dreaded slow set! and a few surprises.

 

As a new year rolls up its sleeves and thoughts turn towards the 2011 fundraising events, the Emer Casey Foundation continues to make magnificent strides in its tireless efforts to support research into ovarian/uterine cancer, particularly in regard to early detection. Since the last update in August 2010, the Casey family can reveal that the three PhD research students whom it has funded over the past three years have conspired to achieve yet further milestone discoveries.

The three students are Lynda McEvoy (Developing Novel Therapeutic approaches in Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer Patients), Mairead Murphy (Developing and Validating Diagnostic Serum Based Biomarker Panels in Ovarian Cancer) and Brendan French ( The Isolation, Characterisation and Silencing of Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells.) Through the foundation, they are affiliated to the Dublin-based DISCOVARY consortium, an organisation comprised of several experts across various areas of cancer research.

DISCOVARY comprises gynaecologists, oncologists, pathologists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, cell biologists, surface chemists, pharmacologists and nurse specialists. It is led by Professor John O’Leary of the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. Within this framework, the fellowships have focused on (a) protein signatures in early and recurrent ovarian cancer and (b) developing novel chemotherapy suitable for ovarian cancer patients.

The students’ work has been greatly augmented by the acquisition of  Ireland’s first SOLiD System Sequencing machine, purchased two years ago through the foundation’s assistance. The machine, a technological wonder, is of primary importance in the technology of genomic (gene study) analysis, including DNA research and its acquisition has placed the DISCOVARY consortium in the forefront of oncology research worldwide

Recent, important achievements

In the past year, research student Mairead Murphy “has identified a panel of over 600 proteins that can be identified in the blood of ovarian cancer patients,” says Juliette Casey of Kilcoran Road, wife of retired garda Brendan and mother of five girls of whom Emer was the youngest. Additionally, researcher Brendan French “has made a breakthrough on cancer stem cells and their capacity to generate non-stem cells,” she adds. While the technical appreciation of these achievements is complex and arguably difficult for lay people to comprehend and appreciate fully, the medical significance is, assuredly, highly potent and of global significance.

That the consortium links its research 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, greatly increases the significance of its findings.

Australia success

Elsewhere, Melbourne’s Emer Casey Memorial 10k, which was held on May 23rd, some 12 hours after the Youghal equivalent, raised Aus$23,000. The family event was spearheaded by former Olympian runner Sonia O’Sullivan and, soon to be in its third year, is already firmly placed as a major event in Australia’s sporting and social calendar. The money raised is allotted to the city’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, which is Australia’s public hospital dedicated to cancer treatment, research and education.

Origins

The Emer Casey Foundation was established in honour of 28 year-old Emer Casey, who lost her life to uterine/ovarian cancer in 2006. Emer was known and loved as an exceptionally vibrant girl, who embraced life and left an indelible, appreciative mark on the lives of all who knew her. An extensive, adventurous traveller and an active, dedicated sports fan –particularly towards Cork hurling and Munster rugby- her energy and consideration also saw her participate in many road races of the kind which now carries her name.

Through the foundation established in her name, Emer’s family, friends and work colleagues have transformed tragedy into a campaign to save others from the deadly affliction. These dedicated volunteers fundraise through a variety of events, including three annual road walk/races in Youghal, Melbourne and London. Their cause is considerably assisted by the tireless contributions and efforts of former employers, Dublin-based solicitors Matheson Ormbsy Prentice. Their combined commitment has raised over €500,000 in four years

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. All those selflessly involved with the Emer Casey Foundation are inspired by the knowledge that a woman’s chances of surviving ovarian cancer increase from 15% to 80% with early diagnosis.

Future direction

The three-year funding agreement for two of the student fellowships has now expired, while €50,000 remains for Brendan French to continue for another year. The foundation retains the option of renewing funding for his research colleagues but is also considering making financial contribution in other areas instead. These basically aspire towards the areas of “psychological support, fertility treatments for patients with cancer and supportive care,” says Juliette. “We are also intent on raising awareness of the disease at home and abroad in the longterm,” she adds. As 2011 settles, the fight to defeat the ‘silent killer’ may diversify, but it shows no sign of diminishing.

Every year in Ireland nearly 2,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. In Youghal, a group of women recently got together to form a very pro active Youghal Support Group and on Sunday, August 29th, a Pink Ribbon Run/Walk was organised to help raise funds for  Cancer Support. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

On a beautiful August day, a large group of ladies met at the Market Square in Youghal, all wearing their pink ribbons, dressed to impress, and ready to go Pink to raise funds for Breast Cancer.   There was an air of commitment and resolve, but also a lot of fun and camaraderie on the quays as the ladies waited for the off.   Babies in prams, and doggie pets firmly on leashes were all ready for the walk/run.   Young and old, fit and not so fit, people from all walks of life came along to support the event for a cause which, for many families, is the most worthy of all.

Many families, in one way or another, are affected by this disease and their friends and relatives were delighted to be able to go along and help raise funds.  Youghal Pipe Band played their hearts out prior to the commencement of the run and hundreds of balloons were let off into the clear blue skies over Youghal, their soaring and flying a symbol of hope to all who watched.

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