Sligo’s Tommie Gorman to host a chat about cancer with survivors

Retired RTE Northern Editor, Tommie Gorman will host a morning of music and chat around the subject of cancer in May.

‘Lets talk about cancer’, a morning of music and chat will take place in the Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon on Saturday 13th May.

The event which is open to the public will feature a number of special guests who all have encountered cancer at some stage in their lives.

Guests include singer songwriter Brian Kennedy, Relay for Life ambassador Majella O’Donnell, RTE’s Evelyn O’Rourke, adaptive adventurer Nikki Bradley, former Leitrim goalkeeper Martin McHugh, Irish Cancer Society’s Corrine Hassen and leading surgeon Martin Caldwell from Sligo University Hospital.

The event is being organised by former manager of Sligo University Hospital, Paul McLoone, a six time cancer survivor himself.

It is been run in conjunction with Sligo Cancer Support Centre, Solace Cancer Support Service Donegal Town, Relay for Life and the Irish Cancer Society.

“The range and level of support services provided by the voluntary sector here in the North West is second to none and is one of the reasons I am still alive today,” said Paul.

“Not everyone avails of these services but we must keep reaching out to help others and give every assistance we can during a difficult period in their lives.

“I was reminded of this when Roslyn Dee wrote an article in late November stating that every three minutes someone in Ireland receives a cancer diagnosis.

“She put it very succinctly when she said ‘let’s not forget all the thousands of people quietly living their lives while dealing day in and day out with this devastating disease.

“They too, deserve our recognition, respect and every possible kind of support that we can give them.”

The event and the awareness campaign around it will remind people that help and assistance is available locally should they choose to avail of it.

The Relay for Life survivor’s choir will open proceedings at 10.30am with Diarmaid McGee and Dean James also performing.

Brian Kennedy will sing a number of hits before the scheduled conclusion at 1.15pm.

The event is being supported by Leader’s’s Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme and Coloplast Healthcare company.

Tickets are on sale at abbeycentre.ie and all proceeds will be donated to local cancer charities