One of Donegal’s leading cancer campaigners has criticised the fact that all money raised during Relay for Life will be spent outside Donegal.
Cancer campaigner Betty Holmes
Chairman of Relay for Life Robert O’Connor admitted to Donegal Daily last week that more than €200,000 raised at the event held at LYIT will go to cancer research on a national level.
Last year a large percentage of the money raised was guaranteed to be spent on local cancer projects.
But now cancer campaigner Betty Holmes has said that some of the cash raised should go towards local cancer projects.
“I had strong views on this last year and some folk thought I was “stirring” about my concerns about what the Irish Cancer Relay For Life fundraising would fund in the long term.
“The biggest part of money raised in Donegal should be invested in the needs of Donegal cancer patients as close to home as possible.
“Research is also vital but there has to be a balance and local daily needs of cancer patients must come far if not top of the list,” she said.
She added that Donegal Relay for Life team and everyone involved have did great work and made us all proud to be part of it.
But at national level this should make people more aware of the impact cancer has had on Donegal people & their families over many years, she added.
“For one thing with the new Daffodil Centre at Letterkenny Hospital coming on board it would have made good economic sense to ensure that money was made available/ ringfenced to pay for the running of the service over the next two/ three years to it is well established.
“I hope it won’t be that pressure is put on Donegal people to come up with the funds to keep it going next year now that it is on it’s way. Great work for cancer services is happening with many different folk over many years in Donegal and this ongoing work is very important for the future and shouldn’t get lost either,” she said.