Cois Nore a Shangri-la for cancer sufferers and Liz’s thank you to Suzie Long

KILKENNY is one of the few counties in Ireland that does not have a dedicated cancer support centre. All that will change shortly when Cois Nore, on Walkin Street, Kilkenny opens its doors. Set up by Kilkenny Cancer Support Services it will provide much-needed therapies, information, guidance and help for cancer patients and their families in the city and county.

Fundraising for this fantastic initiative continues and a painting by celebrated artist Eugene Conway will be raffled in Carysfort Art Gallery, Patrick Street (Dr Boyd’s old home) on May 13.

Chairwoman of Cois Nore is Liz Ruth who beat cancer and knows more than most the importance of having a place to go where you can meet people in the same frame of mind as yourself, where you can talk through things you can’t say to your family and avail of a host of services which are already in most other counties. Liz was diagnosed with cancer of the colon five years and today she is glowing and fully recovered thanks to the support of her family and friends and a cancer support service in another county.

She owes a debt of gratitude to the late Suzie Long and its one that she in intent on repaying.. It was while listening to Suzie Long on RTE Radio One about the dealy in getting a colonoscopy that she thought it might be a good idea to get checked out even though she felt healthy and had never been seriously ill. The decision probably saved her life. As a public patient she received great care in St Luke’s hospital and she thinks that part of this was because of what happened Suzie long and the fear in the hospital there would be another story like Suzie’s one. She wrote to Suzie before she died to thank her for going public on her situation.

The volunteers involved in Cois Nore believe that Cancer treatment should not only involve medical intervention but also healing and support services.

Among the services which Cois Nore will provide at its premises kindly donated by Mr Ray Cody are:

Confidential listening

Reflexology

Counselling

Mindfulness meditation.

Nutritional advice

Access to practical information

Stress and fatigue management

Holistic massage

Mindfulness meditation

Art therapy

Workshops in self-care.

The service will be provided free of charge and all donations are gratefully accepted.

If you feel drawn to organise a fundraiser big or small contact Liz Ruth @ coisnorekilkenny@gmail.com

Liz knows how important it is to get good, accurate information, provided in a warm, friendly environment and that will be one of the most important aspects of the new centre.

The importance of this Shangri-la for those battling cancer was never as important because people simply can’t afford to go to Dublin, Waterford, Cork or Wexford to avail of the services available there.

“I would like to stress that this is a local service provided by local people and with the help of local contributions,” Liz said. “Fundraising will be ongoing to run the centre and every penny raised will be for the benefit of the people of Kilkenny city and county. I think its really important to stress that this is a local service.

Eugene Conway’s exhibition at Carysfort Gallery will open on Friday and willculminate with the auction of one of his wokrs on Sunday, May 13.