“If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options.
You can climb it and cross to the other side.
You can go around it.
You can dig under it.
You can fly over it.
You can blow it up.
You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there.
You can turn around and go back the way you came.
Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.”
― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration
On Thursday 9 July I went down to Kilkenny for the launch of the National Dawn Walk for Cancer which will take place for the first time on Saturday 22 August 2015. I was delighted to be part of the launch and to have the opportunity to speak about my own cancer story which I always prepare in such as way that it will offer hope to people who are listening. It was an extra special way to be spending the anniversary of my own transplant.
The Walk is just as it says – it will take place at dawn on 22 August and will involve a 10K walk (downhill) on Mount Leinster. The walk has a two-fold purpose:
(i) to remember those who are no longer with us because they succumbed to their cancer
(ii) to encourage those who are battling cancer.
The walk is open to everyone. All monies raised will benefit the Irish Cancer Society. The cost is €10 per adult and €5 per child and you must register online. See a short video below about some of the work of the Irish Cancer Society
Remembrance Balloons
In the months leading up to The National Dawn Walk for Cancer’s, the organising team invites you to purchase a Remembrance Balloon Pack. The pack costs €5 and all money raised will also go towards the Irish Cancer Society.
In this pack, you will find two information leaflets, an intention sheet and an envelope. On the intention sheet, you will be invited to write a personal message to a loved one who suffers, or has suffered, from cancer. The contents of this letter will be known only to you, so say whatever it is you like. The organisers ask that you submit your message to the walk’s organising committee on or before 16 August, the Sunday before the walk.
On August the 21st, your message, along with those of countless other participants, will be incinerated and blessed by Bishop Denis Nulty, the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. The ashes of these messages will then be divided and placed inside the balloons.
On the day of the walk, once all the walkers reach the village of Myshall, everybody will be asked to release their balloon to the wind, symbolising the journey and achievement of all the walkers and allowing time for us to remember.
The Remembrance balloons will be on sale at many events across the south east and at many shopping centres on dates which will be announced on the Facebook and Twitter pages of the National Dawn Walk for Cancer.
The best place to get the info is on their website which is here.
I realise that I am one of the lucky ones so that is why I am going to do the walk on 22 August. Will you join me? Registration is open now.
Brenda
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An Irish Girl Interrupted 