Solas Cancer Support Centre hosted its inaugural Croke Park Abseil fundraising event in 2024, and the success of the event has led it to become one of the charity’s flagship fundraising events.
The Abseil planned for March 2026 has a different slant, with participants invited to attend from the Waterford Gaelic Games community. The executive boards of Waterford GAA, Waterford Camogie, and Waterford LGFA have kindly endorsed the event planned for Friday, 27th March, with clubs the length and breadth of the city and county invited to nominate participants from their clubs. In taking part, participants will ask their clubmates to back them in fundraising for the Solas Cancer Support Centre.
The event was officially launched this week by Mount Sion’s Austin Gleeson and Roanmore’s Gavin O’Brien. Both players proudly displayed their club colours at the launch in WLR, the media sponsors for the event. On the pitch Club rivalry is to the fore; however, on March 27th, both players will show a united front in abseiling 120 ft from the Hogan Stand in Croke Park to support the Solas Cancer Support Centre.
Austin Gleeson, Mount Sion player, former Hurler of the Year, Young Hurler of the Year, & All-Star, explained why he is taking on the 120 ft abseil in March: “It’s a great initiative for all clubs in Waterford to come together for a massive cause and for all the families that have used it before and all the families in Waterford that will use it in the future. It must be driven by all Waterford Clubs – no west and east divide. This is for the people of all of Waterford.”
Gavin O’Brien, Roanmore player and former Waterford hurler, also spoke about the impact that the charity makes: “My family members have gotten great support from Solas, just like every family in Waterford who have been touched by cancer and who have used this brilliant service over the years.”
Jim Green, Mount Sion man and Waterford hurling legend, echoes this sentiment, explaining: “A huge part of cancer & recovery is the mental side of things, and that’s what Solas can help with. For people like my family who have gone through it all with cancer, Solas has been there for us.”
Manager Tracy McDaid explains what this event hopes to achieve: ‘Given our annual operating cost of €1.1 million in 2025, this event will raise funds that enable us to provide services to over 1,300 clients in our centres in both Waterford and Dungarvan’.
Seamus Barry, the new Sports Content Manager with Media Partner WLR, is looking forward to hearing stories from participating clubs around the City and County as they register to take part. Seamus, along with Kieran Foley, News & Sports Editor, and Solas Board Member, will both be taking part in the Abseil challenge in March. Seamus has personal experience of the service in Solas: “I started using services in Solas after I lost my mother to cancer last May. When mam passed away, the team at Solas looked after my family and me with incredible care and compassion, giving us comfort at a time when it was most needed. Solas helped me personally in seeking support, which has helped my life in a way that I cannot express in words.”
Solas offers free professional support services to those affected by cancer, their families, and carers in Waterford and sthe urrounding areas. A wide range of services is available, including Counselling, Complementary Therapies, Acupuncture, Meditation, Yoga, Play Therapy, and Art Psychotherapy for children and adolescents, as well as a range of information and exercise sessions. For inquiries about services or for details on the Abseiling event, please call the Solas Cancer Support Centre on 051 304604 or email info@solascentre.ie
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