Crucial step forward in development of childhood cancer centre in Mayo

Children’s cancer charity, ‘Cancer Fund for Children’, has announced that the tender documents are now available for their therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge, to be built on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, county Mayo.

The centre will provide children across Ireland, who have been impacted by cancer, and their families, a safe, restorative space where they can focus on spending time together and reconnecting as a family. 

Cancer Fund for Children provides emotional, social, and therapeutic support to those affected by childhood cancer at home, in the hospital and at the Daisy Lodge, county Down. The build of a second Daisy Lodge will almost double the amount of family members the charity can support each year, from 1,800 to 4,000.

Speaking about the project, Cancer Fund for Children CEO, Phil Alexander, said they are “thrilled to have reached this milestone in bringing Daisy Lodge to the West of Ireland, so that we can provide therapeutic short breaks to even more families impacted by childhood cancer.”

He continued: “We would like to thank all of our incredible supporters and the local community who supported us along this journey. Without your passion and generosity, this would not be possible. We now invite construction and engineering organisations to join us in our mission. Please explore the tender details and share the news within your contacts.”

In 2023 the Government announced last year that they would commit €7.5m in funding to the build of this facility, and work was carried out to clear the site in preparation for construction commencement in the summer. Under the supervision of an archaeologist and ecologist, a sub-base was laid for the footprint of the building, as well as a new access road, car park, and outdoor play area. 

Vanessa Matczak (16), from Ballinrobe, was supported by Cancer Fund for Children when she was diagnosed with cancer. Speaking about this development, she said that she and her family, “went to Daisy Lodge in county Down and it took my heart. You can relax there, do normal things, and forget about blood tests and everything. Everyone there understands so they won’t be staring you down if you have short hair or have something on your body.”

“For every family that Cancer Fund for Children supports at Daisy Lodge, there are another six they can’t accommodate. Having a second Daisy Lodge [in Mayo] will mean that they can be there for even more families impacted by cancer and will also mean that some families don’t have to travel so far.” Matczak explained.

For more information on the charity, and the Daisy Lodge Mayo project, see here.