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10,000 pink rubber ducks to be sponsored and raced down the Liffey to help the fight against breast cancer  

Public asked to sponsor a rubber duck for Powering Pink Duck Race in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation #PoweringPink 

Marie Keating Foundation raise awareness of early and metastatic breast cancer

and the needs of women living with the disease 

Ronan and Storm Keating invite the public to support women with breast cancer and to raise awareness of early and metastatic breast cancer by sponsoring a pink rubber duck which will swim in the Powering Pink Duck Race in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation. 10,000 rubber ducks will take part in the event in the River Liffey, Dublin on Sunday, 29th of October 2017.  The ducks can be sponsored for €4, with all proceeds going to the Marie Keating Foundation’s breast cancer programmes and services. Each of the 10,000 pink rubber ducks will be numbered and cast launched into the River Liffey on race day with the owner of the first duck to cross the finish line winning a weekend break for two at the five-star Conrad Hotel, Dublin which includes b&b, pre-dinner cocktails and dinner on one evening. The race will be monitored so that the results will be certified. For more information and to sponsor a duck, visit www.mariekeating.ie/ducks

Each person who sponsors a Powering Pink Duck in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation will receive an email with their duck’s unique ID number from the Marie Keating Foundation as well as advice on how to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Around 3,200 women in Ireland are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. The 5-year survival for all breast cancer patients in Ireland is greater than 80%. However, for those diagnosed at the metastatic stage, it is less than 20%. Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer, where cancer has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body.  Up to 30% of women with early breast cancer will subsequently progress to metastatic disease. Whilst there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, there are treatments available to help delay the progression of the disease.

All of the proceeds raised by the Powering Pink Duck Race will go to the Marie Keating Foundation’s breast cancer programmes and services to help women with breast cancer live full and active lives. These include a Positive Living programme for patients living with metastatic cancer, helping them to cope with the physical and emotional impacts of the disease as well as managing the practical effects such as making legal and financial plans and finding support for themselves and their family. Funds raised will also support the Foundation’s breast cancer awareness programmes to help women prevent breast cancer and detect it at its earliest stage and its Comfort Fund for families affected financially as a result of their cancer diagnosis.

Speaking at the launch of the Powering Pink Duck Race in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation, Ronan Keating said, “Over one in ten women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. There are currently nearly 30,000 women in Ireland fighting the disease, and it is also affecting their partners, their children, their parents and friends and family. The Powering Pink Duck Race in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation is a fun, and uplifting powering pink event that may even see you win a great prize. But this event will also have a meaningful impact. It’s a great way to support these brave women and their families as all the proceeds of the event will go directly to the Marie Keating Foundations breast cancer campaigns so that they can continue to offer all of their programmes and services

Also speaking at the launch was Dr Carla O’ Neill, Director of Nursing Services at the Marie Keating Foundation, “Advances in treatments mean that more and more women are now living longer and fuller lives after being diagnosed with breast cancer. However, the number of women being diagnosed each year continues to rise, so the fight is far from over. We want to remind women that one of the most important things you can do for your health is to learn what looks and feels normal for your own breasts and then check them each month. Visit the Marie Keating Foundation website for tips on how to do this.”

To sponsor a duck for €4 for the Powering Pink Duck Race visit www.mariekeating.ie/ducks. You can also sponsor a Quack Pack of six ducks for €20 or a Duck Dynasty of 30 ducks for €100.

Alternatively, you can text DUCK to 50300. (Text costs €4. The Marie Keating Foundation will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider LIKECHARITY. Helpline 076 6805278).

Pfizer have generously donated €1 for every duck sponsored.

 

Social Media Hashtag: #PoweringPink