Irish Cancer Society partners with Mayo Cancer Support Association to deliver free counselling to patients
The Irish Cancer Society and Mayo Cancer Support Association partnered to provide 283 free counselling sessions across Mayo in 2025.
The Irish Cancer Society presented €17,000 to Mayo Cancer Support Association, to part-fund the delivery of its free counselling services in 2025.
These free services can be availed of by cancer patients, survivors and their family members as well as those bereaved by cancer.
In addition to free counselling, Mayo Cancer Support Association also provides complementary therapies, group activities, cancer support groups, survivorships programmes, nutrition advice, and children’s services to include play therapy and creative psychotherapy.
The Irish Cancer Society provides free remote counselling across the country, and by partnering with a network of 24 local cancer support centres, funding is provided to deliver free in-person counselling at a community level. In 2025, the Irish Cancer Society’s free nationwide counselling service provided almost 13,000 sessions through cancer support centres across the country.
Mary Quinn, Head of Service Operations at the Irish Cancer Society says:
“One in two of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, and when we do, we deserve the best possible support to help us process and come to terms with our diagnosis. On top of the physical impact of cancer treatment, we know the emotional and psychological toll cancer can take on patients and their loved ones during and beyond their diagnosis.
“Providing free counselling to patients, survivors and their family members is a crucial service for those affected by cancer. We are delighted to partner with Mayo Cancer Support Association to help deliver these services in Mayo. As well as offering our own remote counselling services, through our 24 local cancer support centre partners, the Irish Cancer Society funds vital free counselling services on the ground across Ireland.
“We simply could not be there for those patients and families without the generosity and support of the Irish public. Every €60 we can raise is a free counselling session for a patient or their loved one. Every euro of your support will help make a difference. That’s why we’re asking for your support this Daffodil Day, Friday, March 20.”
Orla Gillespie, CEO, Mayo Cancer Support Association says:
“We are grateful to receive funding from the Irish Cancer Society to help provide our vital counselling service to people who have been impacted by cancer. We are dependent on fundraising to cover up to 50 per-cent of our annual operating costs and we thank the people of Mayo too for their ongoing generosity in supporting the delivery of all the services we provide.”
To continue to provide these counselling sessions, donations can be made to the Mayo Cancer Support Association here, or to the Irish Cancer Society here.
For confidential advice, support and information on any cancer issue, contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on freephone 1800 200 700.