Concert for Cancer

Concert4Cancer raises €268,000

But we still need your help

Concert4Cancer raises €268,000 for the Marie Keating Foundation's cancer information, support and survivorship services but falls short of half a million target putting some services at risk. 

Presented by Rona Keating and Anna Daly, the two hour concert was aired on Virgin Media One on Friday August 27th and featured a host of Irish and UK musicians, such as Ed Sheeran, Gary Barlow Riptide Movement, Aslan, Anne-Marie, Saint Sister, Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Susan O'Neil and Tolu Makay and Felispeaks.

Without any Government funding this year, the Concert had hoped to raised half a million euro to allow the Foundation to achieve three key objectives for 2022.

  • Replace and refurbish two of our Mobile Information Units which together see almost 20,000 people every year and are in desperate need of upgrade
  • Reinstate our full community nursing team. The easing of COVID restrictions means we can now return to our work in the community ensuring our early detection message is given to as many people as possible all around Ireland.
  • Plan our survivorship & support services for 2022 providing support to at least 80 cancer survivors, provide resources to continue our bimonthly meetings for women with metastatic breast cancer and launch and continue a similar group for men in Q4 2021.

 

CEO Liz Yeates explains "As always the Irish public was so generous in response to our Concert4Cancer and we are very grateful for that support. The funds used will go directly back into supporting men and women with cancer at every step of a cancer journey.

However, we had hoped to reach what we raised last year, €500,000, and falling short of this does mean our plans for service provision next year are in jeopardy. We haven’t received one cent of Government funding this year and our ability to fundraise is still impacted due to COVID restrictions. This all comes in a two-year period where demand for all our services has increased. We are so reliant on the Irish public for donations to sustain these services and would ask that if anyone is able to donate we’d be so grateful”

Show your support and make a donation online now

How Your Donation Makes a Difference

The Marie Keating Foundation has been providing free information on cancer prevention and early diagnosis, support to men and women on a cancer journey and help for survivors adjusting to life with or after cancer, for more than 23 years. With your support, together we can create a world free from the fear of cancer and ensure that cancer patients and survivors have somewhere they can turn at every step.

Our Mobile Information Units staffed by our community and oncology nurses provide free advice and support to more than 29,000 people every year in communities across Ireland. Our School’s Cancer Awareness Programme is a six-week programme for senior cycle students  focussing on cancer prevention, early symptoms of cancer and the importance of the HPV vaccine, delivered in an age appropriate and engaging way.

The Comfort Fund, provides once off grants to anyone going through treatment and who is struggling financially as a result. We were delighted to be able to bring back the Comfort Fund as a direct result of the generosity of the public in response to last year's Concert4Cancer. Since it resumed at the end of 2020, the Comfort Fund has helped 170 famlies in need.

We provide free Survive & Thrive programmes for men and women adjusting to life after cancer once treatment ends, as well as a Positive Living Support Group for those living with a metastatic cancer diagnosis.

Cancer patients like Aine, rely on support groups like our Positive Living group to help them navigate their cancer journey with friendship, support and a shared sense of community. Your donations directly supports groups like this that make such a difference.

“Being able to see women living well with metastatic cancer opened my eyes – I wasn’t alone anymore. I felt I could breathe again, that I had the support network I was craving. The strength you get from other people, and what you learn from them, prepares you for what may come in the future.”

Read more about how after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Aine found strength through our Positive Living Support Group.

Read more about the stories of the men and women we support here and to learn more here about the services your donation will support.

Concert4Cancer 2021 Line-Up

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