Tipperary cancer care services launches five year plan

A vital cancer care support group in Clonmel have unveiled a five year plan to develop services and expand their town centre headquarters.
The Clonmel Cancer Care Centre in Wellington Street is set to be expanded with plans in place for a car park,a healing and sensory garden and work will be carried out to enlarge indoor space for group support meetings.

A new fundraising drive,to ensure the continued viability of the service,will be embarked on to finance the Wellington Street development as the Covid-19 pandemic had a catastrophic impact on donations and fundraising activities.
“Donations and fundraising came to a halt because of the pandemic. Community groups and individuals who would normally be carrying out activities and making generous donations to the service were no longer able to do it and that was such a huge loss to the centre,” said the newly appointed manager, Michael O’Brien.
Michael O’Brien, well known in the town for his long service to Clonmel Credit Union, said the launch of the five year plan would create awareness about the plans for the centre and the need for fundraising to take off again.

“The most important service the centre provides is the support for people battling cancer and their families,” said Michael.
“Counselling for the person with cancer and their family members is vital and that is what the primary focus is on.
“The centre and the volunteers here are there to provide emotional support at a time of great distress,” he added.
Trustee Breda Kavanagh, a former manager of Tipperary University Hospital, said all involved were hopeful that more men would avail of the service.

“An equal number of men and women get cancer. This service is here for men too and we would love to see more men take the first step and avail of the support that is available,”said Breda Kavanagh.
Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Richie Molloy praised the volunteers behind the cancer care service and encouraged the public to avail of the service and to participate in fundraising activities.
“This centre suffered greatly because of Covid and there is a need for the people of south Tipperary to get behind this group as the services provided are essential for families dealing with cancer,” said Cllr Molloy.
Giving one example, Cllr Molloy said the counselling service provided by the Clonmel Cancer Centre was a wonderful and much needed service.

“A cancer diagnosis is very scary for families and support is available on their doorstep.
“There can be long delays for a counselling service with the HSE and when you are in a crisis those delays are not helpful.
“The counselling at the centre is readily available and it is given in a nice, friendly and comfortable environment in a confidential manner,” said Cllr Molloy.

Cllr Molloy paid tribute to the volunteers at the centre and said without them the service would not exist.
He informed those present, which included one of the founder members of Clonmel Cancer Care Centre, Theresa Irwin, who founded CARE with the late Muiris Dromey in 2001, that a donation would be made to the centre from the Mayor’s Fund.
Paddy Derivan, Chairperson of CARE, said the centre adapted well to change during the pandemic, providing telephone support and information, phone counselling and outdoor walks for members.
“These additional telephone and online services proved very successful and remain as an integral part of our service,” he added.

He said the centre would further develop its service for people living beyond cancer by the provision of the Cancer Thrive and Survive Programme in association with the National Cancer Control Programme(NCCP).
“Counsellors and volunteers at the centre who have all received specialist training, will provide people with skills they will need when moving on from their cancer treatment,” said Paddy Derivan.

Counselling services offers invaluable support

People who avail of the counselling service available at the Clonmel Cancer Care Centre know only full well the need for the service, the true value of it and the positive impact it can have on families.
Cancer had a devastating effect on Bess Hughes and her family. In 2015 Bess lost her son Robert to cancer at the age of 34 and the counselling service offered by the centre gave invaluable support to the family during their traumatic ordeal.
The family had great fears about how another family member was coping with the crushing loss and the counselling service given at the centre provided a lifeline.
“Everyone in the family could see that his brother Wesley was in a very bad place and we were all very worried about him. I had a friend here in the centre and an approach was made to Wesley about the help that was available.Wesley was in a very difficult place, he came here for counselling and it was of enormous help to him. We could see the difference it made to him and his outlook on life. He never spoke to us about his visits or what happened during those visits but we were delighted to see him coming back to himself as a result of the counselling available here,” said Bess, who is a trustee at the cancer care centre.
Bess, who got involved with the centre as a volunteer after Robert died, said helping out as a volunteer helped her to cope with the loss of her son.
“Working as a volunteer was my therapy. I see the positive impact counselling has on families all of the time. It is a wonderful service. I would encourage people to take the first step and come to the centre for support, it can make a world of difference,” she said.
Counsellor Grainne Hedont said people would book in for group or one to one sessions of counselling and she was in the premises from Monday to Thursday if the need arose during the day if people wanted to speak to her.
“We would like more people to come and avail of the service, just come and talk to us and take it from there,” said Grainne.