Lollipop Day returns to on-street fundraising on 6 & 7 May 2022 with the message that lollies can save lives!
• Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) with patron Padraig Harrington ask the public to spread awareness by tackling the tricky pronunciation of ‘oesophagus’ and ‘oesophageal’
• Rachel Gorry supports Lollipop Month fundraising with inspirational ‘Dive for Daniel’ campaign in memory of her late husband
The Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) is delighted to announce that Lollipop Day will return to its traditional on-street fundraising format on Friday, 6th and Saturday, 7th May 2022 with the aim to raise vital funds for cancer research and spread awareness of the early symptoms of this difficult cancer.
These symptoms include difficulty swallowing, persistent acid indigestion, heartburn and reflux. Unfortunately, approximately 70% of patients experience these symptoms for 3 months prior to contacting their GP. Irish Oesophageal Cancer rates remain among the highest in Europe, with approximately 450 new diagnoses of this aggressive cancer each year.
These symptoms include difficulty swallowing, persistent acid indigestion, heartburn and reflux. Unfortunately, approximately 70% of patients experience these symptoms for 3 months prior to contacting their GP. Irish Oesophageal Cancer rates remain among the highest in Europe, with approximately 450 new diagnoses of this aggressive cancer each year.
This year, the OCF are tackling the issue that often people struggle to even pronounce the name of this aggressive cancer. As a way to further raise awareness The OCF’s pronunciation campaign, supported by patron Padraig Harrington asks everyone to check if they can get their tongues around ‘ee-so-fuh-guhs’ and ‘uh-so-fuh-jee-uhl’ and to take to their social media to share a video of themselves cracking the pronunciation.
Padraig will also help to launch a fantastic online raffle with the opportunity to win one of three sets of highly-coveted passes for the Horizon Irish Open golf tournament when donating a minimum of €5 to the OCF to purchase raffle tickets. The tournament will take place from Thursday 30th June to Sunday 3rd July. To enter visit – https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/PadraigHarringtonOCF
Leading Irish influencer, Rachel Gorry, who sadly lost her husband Daniel to Oesophageal Cancer in 2020, kick started this year’s fundraising efforts with her ‘Dive her Daniel’ campaign, which has already seen her raise over €45,000 through her amazing online raffle. On Lollipop Day Saturday, 7th May, Rachel and some of her late husband’s closest friends will bravely take to the skis for their first parachute jump to increase awareness and support for the ‘Dive for Daniel’ fundraising campaign.
Public donations on Lollipop Day are used to facilitate pioneering research and to develop innovative treatments for early-stage Oesophageal Cancer patients. Public generosity to OCF fundraising over the past two decades has helped enormously in the fight against Oesophageal Cancer with survival rates showing a 50% improvement in Ireland, positioning us fourth internationally in terms of survivorship.
In addition to showing their support on Lollipop Day, supporters can also choose to create their own fundraiser at home, in school or in work, for which the OCF can supply lots of support materials, for example, lollipops, posters, T-shirts etc. Even a €5 donation helps make a difference, as it’s the culmination of thousands of €5 donations that help give hope to patients nationwide.
A key initiative targeting prevention and early diagnosis of Oesophageal Cancer is The National Barrett’s Oesophagus Registry and Biobank, Ireland’s unique data system which ensures that patients identified as at risk, undergo ongoing monitoring and surveillance.
Barrett’s Oesophagus is a common condition and a key pre-indicator of potential Oesophageal Cancer. The Barrett’s Registry, established in 2010, now links six hospitals across Ireland and currently tracks the progress of approx. 8,500 at-risk patients.
Christine Littlefield, CEO of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund said:
“We are delighted that this year we can return to on-street fundraising for Lollipop Day. We receive no other funding so the public’s support and generosity is everything. Their help has enabled the OCF to achieve so much over the past two decades and have such a positive impact on the Oesophageal Cancer landscape in Ireland. With our pronunciation campaign we’re keen to break down any barriers to people talking about and raising awareness of this cancer and we hope the public will get behind us in the run up to Lollipop Day, so we can continue to fund this life-saving research.”
Padraig Harrington, Patron of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund said:
“I’ve experienced first-hand the impact of this terrible cancer, having lost my Dad to it in 2005. He has been experiencing symptoms for quite some time and an earlier diagnosis could have made a big difference in his case. I’m delighted to support the work of the OCF and spread awareness. I’d ask everyone to get involved where they can, whether that’s fundraising or supporting the pronunciation campaign, it all helps and hopefully will stop other families going through what we did with Dad.”
Rachel Gorry said:
“Losing Daniel was a huge tragedy for our whole family, we miss him every day. It’s important for me to do something positive to honour his memory and to make him proud. I’m overwhelmed and so grateful to everyone who has supported the fundraiser so far. I hope the donations will help the OCF to continue to support important research into this horrible cancer and to spread as much awareness as possible.”
Professor John V Reynolds, National Lead for Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer, based at St James’ Hospital, Dublin said:
“The OCF has done extraordinary work in raising awareness of Oesophageal Cancer, in supporting clinical and scientific research, and clinical trials, as well as supporting patients and their families.
From a low base due to it being such a difficult cancer, the survival from Oesophageal Cancer has thankfully doubled in the last 20 years, so real progress is possible. I am asking the public to support the OCF in their wonderful mission to help conquer such a difficult disease.”
This year, Lollipop Day street sales and collections will take place in some regions during April, with the primary collection weekend on Friday 6th & Saturday 7th May. To find out more about the OCF, donate or get involved visit www.ocf.ie and follow us on social @oesophagealcancerfund #lolliessavelives
– Ends –
For further media information, please contact:
Lisa Porter, PR Workshop M: 087 7444067, E: lisa@prworkshop.ie
Editors Notes
2001: OCF founded by Noelle Ryan and friends, having witnessed her childhood friend, Lucilla Hyland, succumb to Oesophageal Cancer.
April 27th: First Lollipop Day fundraising event takes place.
2007: The establishment of The National Barrett’s Oesophagus Registry and Biobank, Ireland’s unique data system which ensures that patients identified as at risk, undergo ongoing monitoring and surveillance according to international guidelines. The Biobank gives patients the opportunity to donate blood and tissue samples for research.
Early diagnosis of this cancer is a crucial contributor to positive curative affect today, with most patients -caught early enough – avoiding major surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. It’s enormously successful.
2019: A study published in The Lancet Oncology revealed that Oesophageal Cancer survival rates have shown the greatest improvement in Ireland compared to six other high-income countries.
The research looked at the survival rate for 3.9 million cases of cancer in Australia, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland and the UK from 1995-2014. Ireland had the largest improvement across the seven nations involved in the study, with an almost doubling in survival between 1999 and 2014.
2020: Annual report from the National Cancer Registry Ireland reveals that Ireland ranks fourth internationally in terms of survivorship from Oesophageal Cancer.
2021: OCF a tiny but tenacious charity celebrates its 20th anniversary and the enormous