TWO dozen swimmers, including two sets of brothers and sisters, are due to tackle a 13km crossing of Galway Bay this weekend in aid of a cancer support initiative endorsed last week by President Mary McAleese.
The work of the Cancer Care West organisation can “make the difference between enduring life and enjoying life”, President McAleese said at the opening of its cancer support centre in Westside, Galway late last week.
The centre offers a range of psychological, practical and complementary therapies for cancer patients. As the President noted, it is modelled on the Maggie’s Centres co-founded in Britain in memory of cancer patient Maggie Keswick Jencks.
The centre is the charity’s second significant investment, just over two years after Cancer Care West opened its €4 million Inis Aoibhinn residence for patients and families on the grounds of University College Hospital, Galway.
The “drop in” cancer support centre, headed by Dr Helen Greally as director of psychology and support services, opened its doors on May 1st. It has already seen some 750 people.
“We provide individual and group support. . . from psychological interventions to complementary approaches, recognising the fact that different approaches work for different people,” Dr Greally said.
Yoga, creative writing, massage, mindfulness and counselling are just some of the services on offer at the centre on Seamus Quirke Road, just half a mile from the hospital, but in a distinctly independent setting.
Prof Ruth Curtis, chair of the organisation’s support services committee, says that the charity is fortunate that its close links with both the hospital and NUI Galway “facilitates research that can identify emerging needs of those who are affected by different forms of cancer”.
Such links also inform “the most effective psychological interventions for good adjustment and improved quality of life”, Prof Curtis said.
Cancer Care West is funded by donations and staffed in part by volunteers, and this weekend’s Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay swim has raised more than €100,000 for the organisation in the three years since it was initiated. Ronan Collins, one of its founders, said it was not just about traversing the bay from Kinvara to Palmer’s Rock in Salthill, but “about a concerted community effort”.
Collins, and two friends Kevin Thornton, whose late mum Frances had suggested the charity as a beneficiary, and Simon Flatley, first undertook the swim in 2006 in a force six gale. “Our safety co-ordinator was not too happy,” Mr Collins said. “However, we had all the safety issues covered, with a rib for each swimmer and arrangements for food and drink en route.”
The swim adheres to Channel crossing swim rules, which means that participants cannot touch their support boat. In 2007, some 10 swimmers took part, and 17 last year.
“If all 24 finish this year, we will have broken the 50 mark, which is quite something,” Mr Collins said.
The swim involves a support crew of 50, and is complemented by a plethora of associated events, including a table quiz, coffee mornings and other initiatives which feed into the charity coffers.
The sea team this year has been training for months, indoors and outdoors. Along with the two brother and sister teams, there is a father-and-son team of Joe and Conor (13) Smyth.
More information on Cancer Care West, including its centre and outreach services in Clifden and Roscommon town, is available from telephone: 091-540040 or 091-545000. Contributions to this weekend’s swim can be made by logging on to website mycharity.ie