Uplifting cancer walk fundraiser returns to Emo Court in Laois

An uplifting candlit 24 hour walk returns to Emo Court in Laois this month, to honour loved ones lost to cancer, survivors and people undergoing treatment, of all ages. 

Relay For Life last year raised €25,000 for cancer services in the county, while also providing a positive heartwarming event, in the beautiful Emo Court grounds, lined with bags of candles showing the names of loved ones. 

Teams from around Laois took turns to walk for a non-stop 24 hours and local musicians performed for free.

The special guests, all those who are undergoing treatment or have beaten cancer, aged from 6 to over 90, were treated to goody bags and free afternoon tea and holistic treatments in a VIP area of Emo House. See main photo.

This year it all happens again, and bigger and better, as the organisers hope to build on that success of year one, which had clashed and shared the limelight with the first Forest Fest music festival on the same site.

This year Relay For Life stands out on its own, a weekend after Forest Fest. It will take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30 from 1pm on Saturday until 1pm Sunday, with teams invited to pre-register now.

Those teams can be families, schools, or any collective group and each is given a small marquee where they can bring and share their refreshments and fundraising ideas, creating a special overnight collective campout. 

Mountmellick teacher Frances Kerry is on the organising committee, and her school Mountmellick Community School was one of the teams last year, with teachers, students and families. 

"Anyone who wishes to walk for 20 mins, an hour or any part thereof or more, are welcome to come along on the day. No pre-registration is required but it would help us with numbers.

"The opening ceremony is at 1pm with live music throughout the day and evening with many local acts performing including the talented Emer Dunne, from Mountmellick, the Lynam School of Dance, Portarlington Brass Band and upcoming Laois performers, with more welcome to join the day.

"We are also very grateful to Mountmellick Men's Shed and Mountmellick Yarn Bombers who are making items to sell at the event, and Mountmellick Athletic Club who are volunteering to help with parking.

"Then at 9pm we will have the Ceremony of Light, when thousands of candles are lit, each one placed in a candle bag, each bag dedicated to a specific person. This candle trail lights the path for those walking throughout the night. At no point is the walking track empty for the 24 hours.

"That moment at twilight was so poignant last year, you couldn't put it into words, to see those candles with names all lined up along the avenue," she said.

Anyone taking a walk in Emo Court on the weekend is welcome to come over and donate and just show support. Last year some Forest Fest partygoers even joined in to walk for hours overnight for their loved ones.  
The money raised is given to the Irish Cancer Society specifically for Laois services, such as paying for diesel and lunches for volunteer drivers who drive local people for their treatments to Dublin hospitals.

Each candle bag is €5, and the volunteers will light a battery candle inside each one. 

In a lovely touch, the eco friendly bags will later be incinerated by Emo Court staff, and the ashes spread around a tree planted last year to mark the event on the grounds. Another will be planted this Autumn for year two. 
 

Anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis and wishes to avail of the special tea, is asked to pre-register at the below link,  or contact Caroline on 087 4499903 or Alan on 086 1222227.

Register and / or donate online ahead of the weekend, at this link on the Irish Cancer Society website. 

The event has already raised over €6,000 thanks to online donations.

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The committee welcomes business sponsorship of any part of the event or donations to the goody bags.  

"We are very grateful to the OPW for their support. We want to get as many people as possible taking part this year. If we can even match the money raised last year we will be delighted. The key thing is that this is for Laois cancer services," Frances Kerry said.

Relay For Life Laois takes place in front of Emo Court house, on July 29 and 30.