Purple reigns on roses day

VOLUNTEERS will be out selling purple roses in shopping centres across the Southside next month as part of Cystic Fibrosis National Awareness Week.

From April 11 to 17 and on 65 Roses Day on Friday, April 15, volunteers will be selling purple roses and other memorabilia in the Ashleaf Shopping Centre, Crumlin, the Dundrum Town Centre, the Powerscourt Shopping Centre on South William Street, St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, The Square Town Centre, Tallaght, the Swan Shopping Centre, Rathmines, Bloomfield Shopping Centre, Dun Laoghaire and Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre.

With around 1,200 people living with cystic fibrosis here, Ireland currently has one of the highest rates of cystic fibrosis in the world and some of the most severe types of the disease.

The aim will be to raise €65,000 nationally to go towards patient support grants for transplant assessment, fertility treatment and counselling, as well as research and new healthcare facilities.

The launch of the campaign was supported by Southside politicians including John Curran, Josepha Madigan, Shane Ross, Catherine Martin, Maria Bailey, Sean Crowe, Aengus O’Snodaigh and Joan Collins.

RTÉ’s Keelin Shanley and Bryan Dobson are also calling on the public to support the initiative by buying a purple rose for €2 on 65 Roses Day, or by donating to www.cfireland.ie

You can also organise a fun 65-themed challenge fundraiser and there are lots of fun ideas to be found at www.facebook.com/cysticfibrosisireland/events

Philip Watt, Chief Executive, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, highlighted the positive developments that have taken place in recent years.

“Despite coming from a very low base, there has been much progress in improving cystic fibrosis care in Ireland over the past three years,” he said.

“This would be seen in terms of the development of dedicated cystic fibrosis health facilities, the lung transplant programme at the Mater Hospital in Dublin and new ground-breaking drugs,” he said.

“This is reflected in the fact that more people are living longer with cystic fibrosis than ever before. However, this momentum has to be sustained and, in particular, we need to see progress in addressing significant staffing shortages in some CF centres, the further development of key health facilities and the provision of drugs which have the potential to make a huge difference to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis but which remain to be approved by health authorities here.

“We are in a period of real hope for people with cystic fibrosis for the first time—let’s not put that in jeopardy now.”

RTÉ presenter and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador, Keelin Shanley, is urging the public to get behind Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day fundraising appeal.

“Funds raised on 65 Roses Day go to support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s range of services which include grants to support people with CF, the development of new CF health facilities, research and education,” Keelin said.

“By way of example, in 2015, more than 300 grants amounting to €147,000 were awarded to people with cystic fibrosis to support them in a wide range of areas, from fertility treatment and transplant assessment, to exercise equipment and eduction support. Without the support of the public, the support grants provided to people with cystic fibrosis simply wouldn’t happen.”

To volunteer to sell purple roses on 65 Roses Day or to take up an exciting 65 Roses challenge, visit www.cfireland.ie, telephone the Cystic Fibrosis Ireland fundraising team on 1890311211 or email [email protected]