Westlife singer and Irish Cancer Society Relay For Life ambassador Shane Filan is urging people across the country to take part in their local Relay For Life as the season begins.
Donegal is one of 11 Relay for Life events taking place across the country this summer.
The fundraising event returns to the ATU, Letterkenny Campus on 24th and 25th May, and everyone is welcome.
Shane Filan, who lost his parents Mae and Peter to cancer, said: “Relay For Life is a magical, moving event that celebrates our cancer survivors in our communities, it helps give solace to those who have lost loved ones. Most importantly, it gives hope. Hope for better services, hope for better treatment, and hope for a future free from cancer.
“It’s hard to believe, but 1 in 2 of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. While every three minutes, someone in Ireland is hearing the words, ‘You’ve got cancer’. The funds raised through Relay For Life helps ensure no one has to face a cancer diagnosis alone.
“I’m urging everyone to get involved in their local Relay For Life, or to bring a Relay For Life to their own area if they don’t already have one, so everyone can experience how moving, uplifting and powerful this special event is.”
During the 24 hours of a Relay, participants team up and take it in turns to walk through the day and night, with someone always on the move during the 24-hour period.
A key feature of every Relay For Life is the survivors’ lap, where cancer survivors who have lived or are living with cancer are invited to open the event with a special celebratory lap of their local Relay track. Relay for Life Donegal invites all local cancer survivors to lead this special lap at 4pm.
A moving Candle of Hope ceremony is one of the main highlights of Relay For Life. Thousands of candle bags that have been personalised with messages of hope and remembrance are lit in celebration of cancer survivorship and to honour loved ones lost to cancer.
The uplifting Relay For Life event also features entertainment and fun for all the family.
The funds raised at Relay For Life are essential to enable the Irish Cancer Society to provide free, vital support services to people affected by cancer across Ireland and to fund groundbreaking cancer research.
To register a team for a Relay For Life event near you, or to find out about bringing one to your community, visit at https://www.relayforlife.ie/event/donegal/home
