The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) announced today its Daffodil Day raised a record €3 million towards providing free cancer care for some of the 20,000 people who contract cancer every year in Ireland.
The total raised by the 5,000 volunteers across Ireland last March is over 6 per cent higher than the previous year.
Mr John McCormack, the ICS chief executive, said this "surpassed all expectations". The money will be used to improved care for cancer patients and their families, he said, particularly in the free-night nursing service provided by the society. About 1,000 people annually use this service.
The budget for home-care nurses will increase by €100,000 per annum to over €900,000, he said.
The number of cancer liaison nurses providing specialist cancer care, information and emotional support in cancer centres throughout the country will also increase from 10 to 18.
One in three Irish people will develop cancer at some stage in their lifetimes.
Other services provided by the ICS, many of which are funded by Daffodil Day, include a night nursing service to look after terminally ill patients in the home; Cancer Helpline nurses to respond to concerned callers; a child psychology and play therapy service for children with cancer; and patient education materials.