Pink Day raises €25,000 for cancer services

Pink Day in Claremorris raises €25,000 for Care to Drive


Michael Commins

PINK Day in Claremorris has yielded €25,000 for the Care to Drive Programme in association with the Irish Cancer Society. The figure was revealed by organiser Marie Crowe who said the support received throughout the town on the day was ‘phenomenal’. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny presided at the official opening ceremony.
For Marie, having Enda lend his blessing to the big day was the icing on the cake.
“We were thrilled and delighted that he accepted our invitation. He got a very warm welcome from everyone and entered into the spirit of the occasion by sporting a pink shirt. It was a great honour to have our own Taoiseach present at our first Pink Day. I know our compere Michael Burke was delighted to introduce him on stage as well.”
The warm sunshine added greatly to the feel good factor and television crews from TG4 and TV3 were in town to film extracts from the day.
The funds raised will enable people to take cancer patients in Mayo to and from their treatment free of charge as part of the Care to Drive programme. In these recessionary times, such a service will provide enormous relief to many hard pressed people already coping with severe strains.
Following on from the overwhelming success of the inaugural event, Marie Crowe, who is the local Tesco Community Champion, says they are now all set to make this an annual event. “Claremorris has pioneered the venture and with the Chamber of Commerce and local volunteers, we will select a different cause to benefit from Pink Day each year from now on.”