Monday 9 April 2018

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Blanchardstown company Malone Group is to be a key sponsor partner for this year’s Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day fundraising appeal, it has been announced. The project management company is to sponsor a national radio advertising campaign to raise awareness of the day and the need for public support in raising funds for vital cystic fibrosis services. The nation’s favourite news anchors, the current and former presenters of the RTÉ Six One News, Keelin Shanley and Bryan Dobson, were on hand to urge the people of Ireland to “get their purple on” and buy a purple rose in participating shopping centres and Spar stores across Ireland and help raise much-needed funds for cystic fibrosis (CF) services. The '65 Roses' appeal gets its name from the way children with this condition often first say the words “cystic fibrosis”. People can support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day on Friday, April 13 by: • Buying a purple rose for €2 or donating online at 65rosesday.ie • Completing a 65 Roses Challenge – for details visit 65rosesday.ie • Texting 65ROSES to 50300 to donate €2 [Text costs €2. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland will receive a minimum of €1.80. Service Provider: LIKE CHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.] Schools and companies are being especially encouraged to get behind 65 Roses Day by selling purple roses or organising their own 65 Roses Challenges, such as a €6.50 bake sale, cycling 65 kilometres, or swimming a mile – 65 lengths of a pool.

Most severe types of CF

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Ireland has the highest incidence of CF per head of population and some of the most severe types of the condition in the world. According to the most recent Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland annual report, there were an estimated 1,339 people living with CF in Ireland in 2016. Almost all of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s funding comes from public donations and organisers are hoping to raise more than €100,000 for vital CF services in 2018. Services funded include the development of new CF units around the country, incorporating in-patient, day care and out-patient facilities, specialist CF multi-disciplinary posts in hospitals, patient support grants, and medical and scientific research. For Caoimhín Ó Lúing, operations manager, Malone Group, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland is a charity close to his heart: “Malone Group made Cystic Fibrosis Ireland their charity of choice a number of years ago and I am delighted that I can play my part to support the charity, with the support of my colleagues and my employer. "Apart from the sponsorship being provided to the national radio advertising campaign, our staff are also getting involved in a 65 Roses Challenge which will see them undertaking a 65K Cycle and hopefully raising a lot more funds. "We'd encourage others to join with us in flying the flag for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland by either sponsoring our staff or organising 65 Roses Challenges of their own. We are proud to give back to the community and help make a difference.” If you’d like to volunteer and lend your support on 65 Roses Day by selling purple roses in your community or workplace, simply call Peter on LoCall 1890 311 211, email fundraising@cfireland.ie or visit 65rosesday.ie.