New cancer patients' bus made its maiden journey today
CANCER Care West’s new Mayo bus, which will bring cancer patients from the county to Galway for treatment, made its inaugural journey today (Monday).
The new service is receiving great community support right across the county, with Mayo IFA holding a huge raffle and Minister Michael Ring having allocated €100,000 for the bus through his department’s CLÁR Programme.
Minister Ring said the bus service, which today mades its inaugural journey from Belmullet to UHG, taking on passengers along the route, will make a massive difference in the lives of many people in Mayo who are battling cancer.
Every week, cancer patients from all over Mayo travel to and from University Hospital Galway for radiotherapy treatment. Many are elderly and may not be able to drive themselves.
Said the minister: “Cancer Care West is one of 27 community care organisations around the country to have received funding from my department for the purchase and refurbishment of vehicles to transport people who are battling cancer or who have dementia or disabilities. I decided to support community care organisations in order to support the amazing work they do voluntarily and free of charge for people in rural areas who are vulnerable or unwell.
“The difference which the provision of these vehicles will make to people in remote rural areas who have to attend medical services is incalculable. In many cases it can mean the difference between being able to avail of day care, respite and other services, or being confined to home. It’s as simple as that.”
IFA fundraiser
Mayo IFA are running a fundraising drive to support the bus service for patients receiving cancer treatment in Galway, operated by Cancer Care West.
Supported by Aurivo and McHale's, Ballinrobe, they have launched a raffle and tickets are available through the secretary or chairman of every IFA branch in Mayo.
The draw will take place on March 1 in the Halfway House, Islandeady, with lots of great prizes up for grabs.
Tickets are also available from Martin Gilvarry, Mayo IFA chairman, on (086) 6082173, Padraic Joyce on (087) 2898725 and Maria Ryan on (087) 6655283.
* Pictured outside Cancer Care West's Inis Aoibhinn, in Galway, where the Mayo bus carrying cancer patients from Mayo made its maiden journey today (Monday), are members of Mayo IFA involved in a fundraising project which helped purchased the bus. From left: Padraic Joyce, Connacht IFA regional chairman, Martin Gilvarry, Mayo IFA chairman, Mary McGreal, Westport and former county secretary, Mayo IFA, John Lynskey, Mayo IFA organising committee, Roy O’Brien, IFA regional executive, and Michael Morley, secretary, Mayo Association Galway and former secretary of Aurivo.