Enormous crowd turn out for Relay for Life
By Maurice Garvey
RELAY For Life Ballyfermot returned with a bang over the weekend, with a huge crowd turning out to support the annual event.
Over the last five years, Relay for Life Ballyfermot has raised nearly €90,000 for the Irish Cancer Society.
Darien, Daisey and Nicola
Cherry Orchard brothers Wayne, Daniel and Kevin McGarry, started the initiative in 2013 to honour their mother Patty McGarry, who passed away that year after suffering from a cancer related illness.
A massive amount of work goes on behind the scene to host a safe and family-friendly 24-hour event in Le Fanu Park – with marquees set up, live music, food and bins provided by a local waste provider.
The Relay organising committee thanked everyone involved for helping to make “an amazing” occasion.
They also thanked all the teams who took part, cancer survivors who “are our inspiration”, St John’s Ambulance for providing support, and local businesses and residents for providing food, music and donations for the Relay’s efforts.
Daithí de Róiste, who MCs the Relay each year, says it “shows Ballyfermot at its best”.
“The word I keep using is powerful. It is an unbelievable event, and it’s not just about the 24-hour walk, it’s about the candle ceremony, when all the community comes together, to remember lost loved ones.
“There were over a 1,000 candle bags, little white bags with fireproof paper and sand. Each person is free to do what they want with their candle, some include pictures of loved ones, some have poems, others have drawings. Fabulous to be involved. It’s just a very powerful event.”
Full picture page of photographs from the event in this week’s Echo, in shops now.
TAGS Ballyfermot
