‘Relay for Life’ attracts thousands of participants
By Maurice Garvey
BALLYFERMOT Relay for Life celebrated another triumphant event with an outstanding turn-out in Le Fanu Park over the weekend.
Held in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, organisers are confident of smashing last year’s amazing total of €34,000, thanks to the local community.
The event was preceded in 2013 with a charity cycle by three Cherry Orchard brothers, to honour their late mother Patty McGarry (54).
Cleggan Road resident Patty passed away in August 2013, after suffering from a cancer-related illness.
Her three sons Wayne, Daniel and Kevin commemorated her memory, by setting up the Patty McGarry Foundation – to highlight early detection of cancer and raise money for the ICS.
After completing a sponsored cycle from Dublin to Wexford with up to 20 friends in 2013, they were contacted by ICS to host a Relay for Life.
Daniel McGarry said: “It was an amazing day, the weather was good, and there was a lot of passionate support. We don’t care about the money, it’s really all about creating awareness for things like early detection.
“Obviously the money is nice for ICS, but it is great to have 26 teams, and the support of the community for the event. My mam brought 2,000 people together in the park.”
Up to 1,500 Candle of Hope bags were sold in the lead-up to the weekend, and more were sold prior to the Saturday night Candle of Hope event.
The event featured a 24-hour run, which sees teams of 10-15 people commit to having at least one member of their team on the track at all times.
The event symbolises the day in their life of a cancer patient and is starting to become more popular globally each year.
A special part of the relay is the opening ceremony. Cancer survivors walk the first lap as participants celebrate with them and ultimately join in the festivities.
Brave young Ballyfermot lads Lorcan O’Brien (5) and Ethan Byrne (6) led the lap from the start, accompanied by their family.
Lorcan is going into treatment at the moment, and Ethan has just gone into remission.
After the 24-hour run, participants gather for a Candle of Hope ceremony, lighting up the dusk sky in a moving show of support for patients and survivors.
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