Cancer charities join forces for new campaign

THREE of Ireland’s leading cancer charities including Breakthrough Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Ireland and the Marie Keating Foundation have joined forces for the first time to launch an innovative new campaign.

‘Face Up To Cancer’ is a digital fundraising campaign, aiming to engage thousands of people to upload their selfies and make a donation at www.faceuptocancer.ie, in support of cancer research and services in partnership with the three cancer charities.

Each image will ultimately form part of a unique facial mosaic, using the thousands of selfies submitted, to form a series of eight portraits in total, showing the faces of some of those who have been affected by cancer, and some of the experts working tirelessly to change the future of cancer care and treatments.

The final resulting mosaics will be revealed across digital platforms once the campaign comes to a close at the end of February and the money raised will be used to make a significant impact on the lives of the one in two people living in Ireland who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

Ambassadors for the campaign include presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, who lost a sister aged 33 to the disease, presenters Bobby Kerr of Newstalk and RTÉ’s Evelyn O’Rourke, both of whom are survivors of cancer, and television producer, broadcaster, and writer Maia Dunphy.

Cork man Stephen Teap, who lost his wife Irene to cervical cancer in 2017, is also supporting the nationwide initiative.

Commenting on the campaign, CEO of Cork-based Breakthrough Cancer Research, Orla Dolan, said “There are new discoveries and new ideas being developed every day to detect and treat cancer which go on to save thousands of lives in Ireland that are simply awaiting funding.

“We’re asking the people of Ireland to be part of the future, to get involved in the ‘Face Up to Cancer’ campaign, so we can ultimately help bring those future treatments to fruition.”

See www.faceuptocancer.ie