Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club walk raised awareness of childhood cancer

Caption for photo above: Carrick Lions Club members and local people who participated in the Light It Up Gold Childhood Cancer Awareness walk and event on September 23. They are pictured outside Ormond Castle where the walk finished. Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club President Maura Barrett, is standing centre (second row behind children). Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

Carrick-on-Suir & District Lions Club did its bit to shine a light on childhood cancer and the work of a charity that helps families of young cancer patients, by hosting the Light It Up Gold awareness event and walk in Carrick-on-Suir.

The Light It Up Gold Walk took place on Saturday, September 23 and began from Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre. Lions Club members and the many local people taking part in the walk were treated to music by Neil Bourke and Ray Nolan with face painting for children before the start.

There were promotional stands at the start point adorned with themed posters painted by the Presentation Primary School pupils. Lions Young Ambassador Kendra Watson gave a talk on the sensory community garden she has created on the grounds of Carrick Heritage Centre.

Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Cllr. Kieran Bourke welcomed everyone and spoke of his support for the Childhood Cancer Ireland Awareness campaign.

Childhood Cancer Ireland is a parent and survivor-led charity, which provides practical and emotional supports to families of children diagnosed with cancer.

The walk took place around the town and finished at Ormond Castle where everyone was offered refreshments.

St Molleran’s Children’s Choir along with musician and singer Kevin Power, who is a Lions Club member, performed at the post-walk event in the castle.

Lions Club President Maura Barrett thanked everyone for attending and introduced Janet O’Neill from Childhood Cancer Ireland who is the parent of a cancer survivor.

Janet O’Neill gave a moving talk about her infant son who was diagnosed with a tumour at only 8 months old, underwent surgery, chemo and radiation along with a large amount of medication.

It was the darkest and hardest of times for the family but thankfully her son is a now a healthy 11-year-old who loves swimming.

That night Ormond Castle and other landmark buildings in the town such as the Town Hall, Carrick Heritage Centre and St Molleran's Church were lit up in gold to further raise awareness of childhood cancer.

Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club thanks all who braved the weather and took part in the Light It Up Gold event.

The club particularly thanks Lions District Ireland Childhood Cancer Officer, Ann Ellis for her work promoting the cause and heading up the event in Carrick-on-Suir along with a sub-committee.

The club thanks its members and local volunteers who helped out and paid tribute to the choir, musicians, face painters and volunteers who donned the Lions mascot costumes for the event.

And it also thanks the speakers at the awareness event along with the OPW for allowing the use of Ormond Castle and Patsy Fitzgerald for allowing the club use the grounds of Carrick Heritage Centre.

Check out more photos from the Light It Up Gold Walk in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.