Cork's annual ‘Make Your Mark on Cancer’ charity walk raises record amount in 2023 

The annual ‘Make Your Mark on Cancer’ charity walk has this year raised a record-breaking €69,861 for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation’s Cancer Appeal.

The popular 22km charity walk from the Viaduct to the town hall in Bandon was set up in memory of Bandon man, Mark Prendergast, who passed away from testicular cancer in 2012.

The tenth annual event, which took place on July 23, saw 362 walkers stepping out to support the charity walk. 

Funds raised through this year’s walk, and supporting events, bring the total raised in the 10-year history to more than €500k. 

The money raised this year will once again go towards the new Mercy Cancer Care Centre, which is due to open early next year.

A portion of the funds raised this year will also sponsor testicular cancer awareness talks for more than 1,000 male students aged 15-18 in seven schools across the county. Commenting on the support the walk received this year Mark’s brother and chair of the ‘Make Your Mark on Cancer’ committee, Damien Prendergast, said it once again “surpassed” all expectations.

“The walk is a wonderful way to both honour Mark’s memory help families who are in a similar situation to what ours was 12 years ago, and who are now dealing with a cancer diagnosis at the Mercy University Hospital,” said Mr Prendergast.

Deirdre Finn, acting CEO, and head of fundraising at the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, said the charity is so appreciative to once again be the beneficiary of the longstanding ‘Make Your Mark on Cancer’ walk in aid of the Cancer Care Centre.

“From early next year the centre will provide a quiet and safe place for patients and their families to access an increasingly necessary range of services to support those affected both directly and indirectly by a cancer diagnosis. 

“It will also be home to our flagship psycho-oncology service to support the mental health and emotional needs of cancer patients and their families during such a difficult time,” Ms Finn continued.