Paint it pink miriam encourages mayo people

TODAY is the first day of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Irish Cancer Society is telling everyone that they still need to be breast aware and take care of their health as breast cancer incidence rises by 32% over ten years.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and while it primarily affects women each year a small number of men are also diagnosed. In 2012 in Mayo 77 women and three men were diagnosed with breast cancer. The Irish Cancer Society urges everyone in Mayo to ‘Paint it Pink’ this October and raise vital funds for lifesaving breast cancer research and crucial cancer support services.

In Mayo the following ‘Paint it Pink’ events have already been organised:

On October 21 at 7 p.m. Nibbles and Networking will take place in Breaffy House Hotel. We hope to have speakers from BNI, Network Mayo, Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, Mayo Business Women and the Irish Cancer Society. A donation of €10 will be asked to benefit the Irish Cancer Society’s ‘Paint it Pink’ campaign.

On October 22 at 10 a.m. a ‘Paint it Pink’ breakfast will be held in the Bay Leaf restaurant, Horkan's Garden Centre, Castlebar. Come out and sample the Bay Leaf’s new breakfast menu and raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Tickets are €10. All proceeds to the Irish Cancer Society.

Mark Mellett, head of fundraising, Irish Cancer Society said: 'As cancer incidence increases – so does demand for our services. Each year we have more people looking for support and we are struggling to maintain our existing services. We completely rely on the public to fund these services, many people think we are government funded however over 95% of our income comes from the general public during campaigns like ‘Paint it Pink’.'

'The good news is more people are surviving cancer. Recent figures show that five year survival rates for breast cancer are at 85%, however we want people to not only survive cancer but to continue to live full and active lives after their treatment and for many to do this they need support. I am hoping that everyone will get involved and support us by painting an event pink to help the thousands of patients, families and survivors who are affected by breast cancer this year.'