20 Jun Cancer Fund For Children receives €2.5million funding to build therapeutic centre in Cong
A Mayo TD has welcomed the announcement of €2.5m funding towards the construction of a new therapeutic centre for children diagnosed with cancer in the county.
Deputy Alan Dillon said he was delighted that Cancer Fund for Children will receive the significant funding under the Shared Island Fund which will assist in the construction of Daisy Lodge in Lisloughrey, Cong on the shores of Lough Corrib.
“I have engaged extensively with CEO Phil Alexander; Director of Services Neil Symington and their team at Cancer Fund for Children as well as Mary McHugh Murphy, the Connacht Regional Fundraiser who is doing a tremendous job locally, in relation to the Daisy Lodge project.
‘This is wonderful news for the charity. This funding will go a long way to supporting construction of the facility, which is expected to cost in the region of €15m with construction expected to begin later this year.”
Deputy Dillon added: “Daisy Lodge have provided short breaks to families from the Republic of Ireland in Daisy Lodge, County Down for the past five years. It is now their vision to build and open a second therapeutic short break centre for children with cancer and their families in Ireland so that no child has to face cancer alone.
‘I am delighted that An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has announced this funding while the Minister and Department of Health are currently bringing together and overall funding package, which will be announced with further information on the project.”
Deputy Dillon said the project is aligned with the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 and will complement and add to existing North/South cooperation on cancer care.
Caption: Pictured at a coffee morning held in the offices of Deputy Alan Dillon were: Hollie Gouws, Ireland Fundraising Support Officer, Cancer Fund for Children; Judit Juhász, Manager of O’Hehir’s Castlebar; Alan Dillon, TD; Mary McHugh Murphy, Connacht Regional Fundraiser, Cancer Fund for Children and Neil Symington, Director of Services, Cancer Fund for Children.