Kilkenny's Cois Nore cancer support centre launch Gift of Care fundraising campaign

A Kilkenny cancer support centre has launched an ambitious fundraising campaign.

Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre unveiled their Gift of Care campaign in the city’s Medieval Mile Museum.

The venture encourages people to ‘Give the Gift of Care’ by donating €250 to Cois Nore, which can translate into €362 in the hands of Cois Nore thanks to the tax treatment of such donations by Revenue.

BREAKING: New premises for Kilkenny Cancer Support Centre Cois Nore

A campaign will take place to raise €2million to fund the project

Monthly donations of €21, which reaches the threshold, can be signed up to at coisnore.ie/giftofcare. Funds raised will enable Cois Nore’s relocation to a bigger premises on the Waterford Road Kilkenny.

Services

“We are now providing a greater range of services to a greater number of people,” said Cois Nore chairman Bill Cuddihy, speaking at the launch. “Our new centre will give more therapy rooms, larger meeting rooms, more communal space, room for provision of a gym and space for us to provide services for our people with privacy and dignity.

“We currently have 332 active users of our services, but we know that will have many more when we relocate,” he added.

“These include people at all stages of their cancer journey. We provide services for those with cancer, for their partners, sometimes for their parents and frequently for their children.”

Brian Cody, former Kilkenny senior hurling manager and patron of Cois Nore, spoke about the importance of community, drawing on his own experience.

“When we get behind a cause we can achieve anything,” he said. “In sport, as in life, we are at our best when we meet challenges together. Without doubt support for this initiative will mean that Cois Nore can continue to sustain our community.”

The entertainment was led by the Cois Nore Choir, led by Adrian O’Keeffe. The choir members all have a link to Cois Nore and performed a beautiful range of songs to the evident delight of the audience.

Support

The Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre, which is based in Kilkenny City, provides psychosocial support services to people with cancer and their families who are living in the county of Kilkenny and the surrounding areas.

The group was set up to address the need for support in the community for people with cancer and their families. This initiative is the result of local community members coming together to address the need for cancer support services in their county. Cois Nore continues to be volunteer-led by the community, for the community.

Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre is affiliated to the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and is a member of the Alliance of Cancer Support Centres (ACSCs) under the NCCP umbrella. All services are provided free of charge.