When Daniel O’Donnell first became a patron of Relay For Life Donegal, he had no personal reason to get involved, other than to support the Irish Cancer Society.
The following year, everything changed when his wife Majella was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“You really don’t know what’s around the corner,” Daniel tells Donegal Daily.
“It’s an amazing thing to be involved in,” he says of Relay for Life, now 12 years in Donegal.
“At the start, I was there with maybe no understanding other than being aware of people having cancer. Then the next year it was our story,” he reflects.
“I know what it’s like for somebody going through cancer. I know what Majella goes through even now. There is always that fear the cancer will come back. That’s a reality for everybody who has had cancer, I’m sure, that fear it will come back or revisit your door again.”
Majella O’Donnell, the Global Hero of Hope for Relay For Life Donegal, will join Daniel as a joint patron of this year’s event, which returns to the ATU Letterkenny campus on the 25th and 26th of May.
Majella’s incredible support of the Irish Cancer Society goes back to 2013 when she famously had her head shaved live on the Late Late Show, raising a staggering €550,000 almost overnight.
“Majella knows it from all sides, she knows the importance of this event,” Daniel adds.
Majella wipes away a tear while Daniel performs at Relay for Life Donegal 2015. Photo: North West Newspix
The 24-hour Relay in Letterkenny will see Daniel performing a full concert for free on the main stage on Sunday the 26th May 2024 from 1.30pm to 3pm. There are no tickets and all are welcome to visit the ATU Letterkenny Campus and share in the solidarity, support and fundraising.
Daniel is inviting everyone to show their support in numbers.
“Your presence is important to give a boost to those who need it. And those that can give, will give a donation, it’s all going to a wonderful cause, it’s helping people now and in the future. Without research, there are so many people who wouldn’t be alive today. With research, there will be a lot of people in the future who will survive,” he said.
Relay for Life Donegal has raised a staggering €1,675,000 for the Irish Cancer Society since it began in 2011.
There are so many reasons to relay, whether in memory of a person who has passed on, to honour a survivor who has undergone treatment, or to raise funds to make cancer care and services better for those in the future.
The Luminaria ceremony is one of the most poignant highlights of the night, when thousands of candles light the track representing names of loved ones lost, those who have survived or are still fighting the disease.
Candles burning Relay for Life Luminaria Ceremony in Donegal in 2023. Photo Clive Wasson
The Hope and Cure message at the core of Relay for Life Luminaria Ceremony. Photo Clive Wasson
Daniel says there is great hope to be gained from the gathering: “There are so many people that have survived cancer that may not be thinking about going but it’s very important too for those that are going through cancer to meet people that have survived years and years, that is a wonderful positive situation and gives great hope to people.
“There is a sadness obviously remembering loved ones who are no longer with us in the Luminaria, it’s very emotional for many, you cannot but be moved by it but for the most part, it’s a very uplifting experience to be there and see how many people have been on the journey and are with us.”
In the first year, Daniel teamed up with Mark Roberts to write the inspirational song, ‘I’ll See This Journey Through’, which is echoed by the Survivors Choir each year.
May 2012: Daniel O’Donnell – siniging and launching his single ” I’ll See This Journey Through” with the proceeds going to Relay for Life Donegal – pictured with Yellow Rose Team Members Kathleen O’Donnell and Seamus O’Donnell. Photo:- Clive Wasson
Relay for Life is the biggest cancer fundraising initiative across the world. It sees communities across the globe coming together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those facing cancer. Relay For Life is a celebration of solidarity and helps to raise awareness of the services provided by the Irish Cancer Society locally and nationally.
To provide these services requires significant funding and as only approximately 5% of the Irish Cancer Society’s Annual Funding comes from Government Funds, it depends on events such as Relay For Life Donegal to help raise the monies needed.
“We just don’t know when something will happen when we’ll have to reach out for the services, that this what this is all about,” Daniel said.
“I think it’s so important for that day to have a huge amount of people there to stand with the others that are going through a difficult time.”
Majella O’Donnell, the Global Hero of Hope for Relay For Life Donegal, helps cut the ribbon of the Relay for Life National Event in Dublin in September 2023. Photo Rachel McLaughlin
Relay For Life Chairman Seamus Devine has thanked Daniel for offering to do the concert at Relay, saying: “Every year, Daniel and Majella amaze us by their energy and enthusiasm for Relay and this year’s gesture by Daniel and his band to perform (free of charge) at Relay is incredible. Daniel’s huge support base will be thrilled at the opportunity to see him perform at Relay and we look forward to welcoming them to the event. Hopefully they will be there throughout the weekend itself to experience what Relay For Life Donegal has to offer”.
Obviously not everyone will be able to be present on the day, but donations can be made online through the following link https://www.relayforlife.ie/event/donegal/donate
For more updates in the countdown to the 2024 Relay for Life, follow the Relay For Life Donegal Facebook page here.
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