Take a moment to smell the... daffodils

What a glorious week we’ve had. The sun has shone, there’s more good weather on the way, Ireland is one step closer to a Grand Slam, and we even had a day off! Despite everything it’s hard to complain.

It’s weeks like this where you really have to count your blessings and try to forget the bad things out there.

Instead of stressing yourself out, being consumed by ‘ifs’, ‘buts’, and ‘maybes’ why not spread some love this weekend? Catch up with loved ones, spend some time with the family, or just take a few hours out to recharge your batteries. Or why not go that one bit further and support a charity which has touched the lives of so many and needs your help?

Today (Friday March 20 ) is Daffodil Day.

This year, the aim is to make some €4.25 million to fund nationwide nursing services in homes and hospitals across the country, as the  Irish Cancer Society plants a beautiful Garden of Hope of 5,000 daffodils symbolising loved ones who have fought or are fighting cancer.

It’s a sad reality that most of us know at least one person who has lost their life to cancer. The disease is an ever present curse in modern society. It affects everyone, no matter the age, lifestyle, or background.

Today the Irish Cancer Society is calling on you to support Daffodil Day 2009 so that it can continue to grow its free specialist patient care services for people with cancer and their families all over Ireland.

All funds raised go towards the provision of free nationwide care services for cancer patients in your hospitals and local communities.

Speaking in advance of Daffodil Day 2009, John McCormack, chief executive, Irish Cancer Society said, “It is estimated that over 25,000 people will develop cancer in Ireland this year and one in three of us will develop it during our lifetime so we are experiencing a growing demand for our free nationwide patient care services. Clearly we are concerned at the potential impact of the economic downturn on our fundraising efforts but we are saying now more than ever that our services are needed so come out and support us.”

To mark Daffodil Day 2009, the society has also planted a Garden of Hope of 5,000 paper daffodils at Ashtown Garden Castle in Phoenix Park. Each ‘paper’ daffodil sent in by members of the public and planted in the Garden of Hope symbolises a loved one who has fought or is fighting cancer.

It also represents our hope, hope that we will never forget those whom we have lost to cancer, hope that those with cancer will get the support and care they need, and hope that one day, we will overcome cancer.

The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the Irish public to support Daffodil Day 2009, by buying a daffodil on Daffodil Day, making a donation on CallSave 1850 60 60 60, or by visiting www.plantadaff.ie

So today, while you’re going for a stroll in the sunshine, or sitting in the park relaxing and you see all those beautiful daffodils which have bloomed think how lucky you are.

And just think how far a small donation can go; after all one out of three of us is going to affected by cancer at some stage of our lives.

 

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