Latest news with #DaffodilDay
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Swimmer reflects on shock discovery before major event
Feeling helpless as a growing number of friends were diagnosed with cancer, Kim Wellington organised an open water swim to raise money for life-saving research. The champion Masters swimmer, then 47, never imagined she'd be also be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in the weeks before she hit the water. "It was the most surreal feeling, just to be feeling so strong and so healthy and wanting to get involved in this fundraiser for other people that I cared about and then finding myself in that exact spot," Ms Wellington told AAP. "It just kind of highlights that cancer does not discriminate." Still reeling from her own health shock, she and about 100 others relished the chance to take a dip in the freezing cold water off Adelaide's Henley Beach. They raised almost $7000. "In that water was just pure joy, everyone put aside their grief, fear and everything else and just had fun with it," she said. This year, she's organised two swims to raise money for Daffodil Day on August 21 with participants urged to don bright yellow - the colour of hope - and lean into their inner silliness. "It's easy to brush off, there's such a need for money for everything and I think people do get a little bit compassion fatigued," she said. "But you're talking about cancer in particular, affecting one in two people in their lifetime." About 8000 people have signed up for Daffodil Day Dips around the nation this year, a quirky fundraiser on top of daffodil stalls and thousands of workplace fundraisers aiming to raise $4 million nationally. The money raised through the Cancer Council will mainly go towards research. That includes work to understand risk factors, improve diagnosis, public health prevention and clinical trials of new drugs, including medicines with fewer side effects. Peter Diamond is general manager of support and research at the Cancer Council. He said while almost 170,000 Australians were diagnosed with cancer in the last year and almost 53,000 patients died, the world was "absolutely" getting closer to cures for certain forms. The overall survival rate within five year of a diagnosis has drastically improved, going from 52 per cent in 1989/93 up to 70 per cent in 2014/18. Dr Diamond said knowledge, treatments and research were rapidly improving but more work was needed to be done - and funded. "I do think that we're always on the precipice of something new and exciting," he said. "We're now implementing all these new technologies which many years ago were considered complete science fiction. "As we get a better understanding and as technology improves, the things that used to take us really long time to do now don't take us long." Ms Wellington knows times are tough for many Australians but wants people to know it's still valuable to donate just a few extra dollars to help improve outcomes for patients. "They're making such amazing advances in research for cancer, but it needs to keep going and the only way to get that is to keep holding these kinds of events," she said.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Swimmer reflects on shock discovery before major event
Feeling helpless as a growing number of friends were diagnosed with cancer, Kim Wellington organised an open water swim to raise money for life-saving research. The champion Masters swimmer, then 47, never imagined she'd be also be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in the weeks before she hit the water. "It was the most surreal feeling, just to be feeling so strong and so healthy and wanting to get involved in this fundraiser for other people that I cared about and then finding myself in that exact spot," Ms Wellington told AAP. "It just kind of highlights that cancer does not discriminate." Still reeling from her own health shock, she and about 100 others relished the chance to take a dip in the freezing cold water off Adelaide's Henley Beach. They raised almost $7000. "In that water was just pure joy, everyone put aside their grief, fear and everything else and just had fun with it," she said. This year, she's organised two swims to raise money for Daffodil Day on August 21 with participants urged to don bright yellow - the colour of hope - and lean into their inner silliness. "It's easy to brush off, there's such a need for money for everything and I think people do get a little bit compassion fatigued," she said. "But you're talking about cancer in particular, affecting one in two people in their lifetime." About 8000 people have signed up for Daffodil Day Dips around the nation this year, a quirky fundraiser on top of daffodil stalls and thousands of workplace fundraisers aiming to raise $4 million nationally. The money raised through the Cancer Council will mainly go towards research. That includes work to understand risk factors, improve diagnosis, public health prevention and clinical trials of new drugs, including medicines with fewer side effects. Peter Diamond is general manager of support and research at the Cancer Council. He said while almost 170,000 Australians were diagnosed with cancer in the last year and almost 53,000 patients died, the world was "absolutely" getting closer to cures for certain forms. The overall survival rate within five year of a diagnosis has drastically improved, going from 52 per cent in 1989/93 up to 70 per cent in 2014/18. Dr Diamond said knowledge, treatments and research were rapidly improving but more work was needed to be done - and funded. "I do think that we're always on the precipice of something new and exciting," he said. "We're now implementing all these new technologies which many years ago were considered complete science fiction. "As we get a better understanding and as technology improves, the things that used to take us really long time to do now don't take us long." Ms Wellington knows times are tough for many Australians but wants people to know it's still valuable to donate just a few extra dollars to help improve outcomes for patients. "They're making such amazing advances in research for cancer, but it needs to keep going and the only way to get that is to keep holding these kinds of events," she said.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Gisborne Cancer Society seeks volunteers for Daffodil Day fundraiser
The Agency staff members (from left) Kylie Kahukiwa, Karyn Anderson and Laice Jackson set up an impromptu Daffodil Day stall and quickly sold two buckets of flowers. All three, who have family members who have battled cancer, are enthusiastic supporters of the Cancer Society and ask the public to support the Daffodil Day collection on August 29 and 30, or other connected fundraisers. Daffodil Day is three weekends away and Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society is looking for volunteers. Collectors will be in the CBD and other locations such as The Warehouse on Friday, August 29, and Saturday, August 30.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Averil Power announced as new chief executive of Clúid Housing
She has been Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society since January 2018. She has previously worked as Chief Executive of the Asthma Society and was also a senator and political adviser. Commenting on her appointment, Ms Power said: 'Having grown up in social housing, I know firsthand the lifeline it provides to people who could not afford to rent or buy privately. "I have also seen through my work as a public representative and charity leader the negative impact lack of a secure home is having on the mental and physical health of children and adults across Ireland.' Power worked as a senator from 2011 to 2016 serving on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. Previous to this she worked as a political advisor to Mary Hanafin, but later resigned from the Fianna Fáil party in 2015. 'Clúid is working to change this through its advocacy and by directly delivering record numbers of social, affordable and age friendly homes,' Ms Power added. Current Clúid Chief Executive, Brian O'Gorman, said: 'Under her leadership, the Irish Cancer Society has doubled its income from Daffodil Day and other key campaigns, enabling record growth in the number of people benefiting from its services and research.' 'Averil has a deep personal commitment to equality and social justice, as evident from her previous leadership on issues such as educational disadvantage, marriage equality and the rights of adoptees to know their original identities. 'Her commitment to Clúid's social mission, her vision for inclusive and sustainable growth, and her appreciation for the strength and talent already present across our organisation, underlines my confidence that Clúid is in safe hands as the organisation embarks on its next stage of development,' he said.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Order daffodils now for Daffodil Day, support Gisborne Cancer Society
Orders are being taken for flowers as Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society counts down to the Daffodil Day annual fundraiser on August 29. Those who love beautiful and fresh daffodils can place their order with the society by August 20 in time for delivery on Wednesday, August 27.
