Mayo cancer charities to receive €125,000 from 'Regina’s Fight for Life' fund

A TRUST set up in 2019 to raise money for the treatment and care of the late Regina Duffy has donated €100,000 to Mayo Roscommon Hospice and €25,000 to Mayo Cancer Support.

'Regina’s Fight for Life' fundraising campaign was established in 2019 to raise money for Regina Duffy's treatment and care and the associated costs. A native of Drummin, Westport, Regina (pictured) died on December 23, 2019 after a long battle with illness after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in late 2018 which was her third cancer diagnosis since 2011.

A fundraising campaign was launched to help fund specialist treatment in New York and the campaign received a phenomenal response from the public.

The treatment was undertaken but it was not as successful as everyone hoped it would be and Regina passed away surrounded by family in 2019.

When the Trust was set up, an agreement was formalised that any surplus funds would be allocated to causes similar to that of the Trust and it was decided that registered charities specialising in cancer care and research and palliative services will benefit.

The Trustees announced over the weekend that €200,000 of the trust will be distributed to three charities including €100,000 to Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation; €25,000 to the Castlebar-based Mayo Cancer Support and €75,000 to the Irish Cancer Society.

In a statement, the Trustees of Regina’s Fight for Life (RFFL) thanked everyone who donated, supported or contributed to the campaign and they should know what a difference they made not just to Regina but now to these other charities.

“We would like to thank everyone who donated to the RFFL campaign in any way. A huge amount of money was raised in such a short period of time and this was the result of a community coming together. These funds allowed Regina to seek treatment which was just not available in Ireland and whilst we all hoped this treatment would have given Regina much more time, it simply was not to be. These remaining funds will hopefully help other people in their time of need,” the statement read.

'Incredible donation'

Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation funds palliative care services and support to both people with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Mayo and Roscommon, enabling patients to live out the remainder of their lives in comfort and dignity. Their palliative service is provided free of charge to all and Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation expressed thanks for the donation on their Facebook page stating they are 'so grateful and thankful for all involved in this incredible donation'.

Mayo Cancer Support provides valuable services to people affected by cancer and they need to fundraise 90 percent of their annual running costs. Both Regina and her mother Julia availed of the services provided at Rock Rose House in Castlebar and the charity also expressed thanks for the donation saying that Regina’s legacy will live on in the work done at Mayo Cancer Support.

Irish Cancer Society is a national charity transforming the experience and outcomes of people affected by cancer through advocacy, support services and research.

The Trustees also announced that it is not possible at this time to dissolve the Trust as there are still a couple of outstanding issues as well as a loan of €6,000 for which the Trust has written confirmation will be repaid in due course.

They stated that Audited accounts have been produced to account for the funds paid into the Trust since its inception and these accounts were also sent by the Trust’s solicitor to the Charity Regulator, for the purpose of governance.

“Following the distribution of €200,000, a balance of circa €18,500 remains in the Trust’s bank account. Further updates will be given when we are in a position to distribute these remaining funds and formally dissolve the Trust,” they stated.