Public vote nets windfall for Mayo Cancer Support
The board of Mayo Cancer Support had major cause for celebration at its most recent meeting when it was confirmed that an allocation of €28,000 had been paid out to the local charity from the AIB Community Fund.
Established in 1999, Mayo Cancer Support is a registered charity that provides free emotional support through a suite of services to local people who have been affected in any way by a cancer diagnosis or bereavement.
The charity currently supports approximately 2,000 local people per year through the provision of free services such as professional counselling, complementary therapies, support groups, information nights, etc.
It costs in the region of €200,000 to operate these services each year and Mayo Cancer Support is dependent on fundraising to meet up to 90% of that cost.
Earlier this year, AIB launched the first €1 Million Community Fund and asked its customers and the wider public to nominate registered charities that connect with causes that matter most to them and their communities.
Mayo Cancer Support was one of a number of Connaught-based charities shortlisted for funding as a result of the public vote and, following a presentation on its services to an adjudication panel, was awarded an allocation of €28,000.
The funds were paid out at the end of October and acknowledged and welcomed by the charity’s board at its November meeting.
Board chairperson, Seamus Moran, said the funding was timely following a fallow period for fundraising due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He noted that the money would go a long way towards helping to realise key pillars in Mayo Cancer Support’s five-year strategic development plan. These pillars include the expansion of services with a particular focus on children’s supports, together with the enhancement of the charity’s digital presence to maximise the promotion of its work and fundraising activities as well as its message of hope to communities across Co. Mayo.
“While Mayo Cancer Support welcomes this much-needed funding, it means even more to us that this windfall has been facilitated through the support of our local community.
“We are very grateful that so many local people took the time and trouble to nominate us for this funding. It means that the work we do is recognised and valued by the communities that we serve,” Mr. Moran said, adding his thanks to AIB for establishing the Community Fund initiative.
If you or someone you know has been affected by a cancer diagnosis or a cancer bereavement and would like to find out more about the services Mayo Cancer Support offers, you can call (094) 9038407 or visit the charity’s new website – www.mayocancersupport.ie.