People across Waterford City and County are being urged to support this year's Daffodil Day which takes place on Friday March 24th.
The local launch of the event, which is the Irish Cancer Society's biggest annual fundraiser, took place earlier this week at The Holy Cross Bar, Butlerstown.
Chairman of Waterford Daffodil Day Des Daunt says they've adapted to challenges over the years.
"We're in our 33rd year. It's been a very productive 33 years. After Covid, we came back last year with a bit of a bounce. We're looking forward to an even bigger bounce this year," he says.
He thanked all the retail outlets which enable collections to take place and also praised the volunteers.
"We have many of the same volunteers coming back over the years and their family members coming along to help also," he explains.
"Daffodil Day is now a tradition on the last Friday of March and everybody always looks forward to it."
One such volunteer is 91-year-old Aileen Stephenson who has been responsible for Daffodil Day collections in Kilmeaden.
"Nobody ever refused to give us money," she said.
Aileen also praised the volunteer collectors within her own area.
"They'd never let you down."
Kilmeaden volunteer Aileen Stephenson
Colm Murphy is a volunteer driver with the Irish Cancer Society. The service is one of many provided by the Irish Cancer Society through funding from Daffodil Day.
Over 1,200 drivers around Ireland volunteer for the Irish Cancer Society Volunteer Driver Service to ease the strain of travel on cancer patients.
Colm has first hand experience of the services provided by the Irish Cancer Society through support to him and his late wife who died from cancer.
As a result of his experience, he decided he wanted to give something back.
"I can now help people who were in my situation," he says.
"Some days it's heartbreaking, you hear a sad story. But then you realise you provided a service which some people didn't realise existed. Or you might be the only person they spoke to that day. It's helped me in a massive way to get over what happened to me - and it's helped me have a better outlook on life."
Volunteer Driver Colm Murphy
Des Daunt adds that events on and after Daffodil Day in Waterford last year raised around €80,000. He hopes to see similar support again this year.
"We're well aware of the economic pressures on households now because of energy costs," he says.
"I'm take aback by the generosity of people every year, particularly in Waterford."
Commenting on Daffodil Day 2023, Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said: "Every three minutes, someone in Ireland, hears the words ‘you have cancer’. Cancer takes from us every day. It takes big days, little days, and everything in-between. It replaces them with treatment days and recovery days. But together, we have the power to take these days back from cancer. The Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day is a day to give hope and raise vital funds so that one day, cancer can take no more.
“Daffodil Day is our most important fundraising event of the year with donations funding crucial supports including our Support Line, free counselling, our Night Nurses service, and financial support for families of children affected by cancer. The public’s generosity on Daffodil Day allows us to support life-changing cancer research
“At the Irish Cancer Society we want to support every single person in Ireland affected by cancer. But we cannot do this without your help. We typically receive 3% of our funding from the State. It’s only because of the generous support of the Irish public we are able to provide our free services and fund life-changing cancer research projects. We ask everyone to please get out there and help us turn Ireland daffodil yellow once again on March 24.”
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