September is Childhood Cancer awareness month.
Many well known buildings and landmarks throughout Cork City and county will turn gold for the month to increase awareness of the life changing illness affecting thousands of families.
County Hall, the Elysian and Cobh Cathedral are among those going gold.
Several families throughout East Cork are living through the effects of childhood cancer, many will gather on Saturday 6 September for a candle lit vigil through Cork city.
The walk will start at 6:30 pm from Daunt square and will head down South Mall towards Parnell Place onto Merchants Quay and back to Daunt Square.
There will be a performance by Midleton musician David Quirk followed by speeches by those affected by childhood cancer.
Last year over 800 people took part in a candle lit vigil to mark the event. This year is expected to be bigger and better.
Brendan Hayes one of the campaign organisers told the Frontpagenews.ie that “the lack of public awareness of the impact that childhood cancer has on families is worrying. This event is being organised to remind people that children get cancer too and highlight the great services that are currently available. when your child is diagnosed with cancer your whole world falls apart. For me I felt like a deer caught in the headlights.”
In 2011 at the age of 11 Brendans’ daughter Rene Hayes was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The eleven year old went through a two and a half year treatment programme. In 2012 she contracted fungal pneumonia which saw her in hospital for over two months. In May 2012 Rene also suffered a series of strokes.
Brendan said ” It was an incredibly difficult time that changed our lives, as a result our family has an amazing closeness.” Thankfully Rene has now made a full recovery.
For more information please log onto www.childhoodcancer.ie or www.facebook.com/lightitupgold