Some comments from the night of the launch taken from comments written on the comment sheets:

“Excellent Launch!” “Congratulations!” “ Delighted to be present! A brilliant success!”

“I thought all the speakers were brilliant in bringing across the necessary info needed.”

 “Tonight was a great success, good turnout and I thought the the speakers were great especially Margo. It brought a lot of feeling back and I was a bit emotional. Cancer can happen to anyone of us, may this be the journey to success”

“Trusting this will be a great comfort to sufferer’s. Thank you for filling the gap that is much needed. Congratulations on a job well done”

“The launch of You Are Not Alone is a credit to all involved. Keep up the good work. Donegal patients need the support”

“Congratulations on a very interesting and informative evening. Many thanks and appreciation to the people involved in putting the book together. It renews faith in people sharing and working to help others”

“Congratulations. A good idea to publish book”

“Well done to all concerned. It will be a best seller, free!”

“Fantastic! Thank you so much for writing this book”

“ A very well presented launch by all. Extremely welcoming atmosphere. Overall a very moving experience and very uplifting. Keep up the fantastic work”

“Excellent launch. Congratulations to the Strategy Group on their hard work- Excellent Production. Delighted to be present at the launch. Well Done”

“So good to see the spark back in DACC. Light the fire!

”

The 24th September 07 saw another great success for DACC.

A large crowd attended the Official Launch which saw attendee’s taking books for not just themselves but for family members, friends neighbour’s people they knew in other parts of both the county and country.

Margo O’ Donnell was given a standing ovation by the crowd for her very moving sharing of her own journey and life’s experience of and through cancer and her recognition of the needs of cancer patients. Margo was very sincere in her praise of the work of DACC.

Margo said she “wished she was here tonight not as Donegal Person of the Year but as a cancer survivor”. Margo stressed that “there were too many negative stories regarding cancer and that while reading You Are Not Alone the night before I was moved by the amount of positivity within the book”. She felt strongly that we should should all dwell on the positive and restated that she was a survivor. 

Sincere Thanks to everyone for their support and positive comments.

Monday 24^th September 2007 saw the launch of a book produced by Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC), in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, at 8pm.

The book “You Are Not Alone” which was produced by The Action Strategy Sub Committee of DACC, with financial assistance from the Citizens Information Board, provides a common source of information for cancer patients, their families and friends. The information is presented in common everyday language that makes it easy to read and understand.

The book was written to help people understand and cope with the journey from diagnosis through to treatment and onwards to recovery. It will help them understand the changes that can happen in their life and assist them and their family to deal with their feelings about cancer.

The book also provides useful tips and hints provided by medical experts and also by people who have already travelled this road and who can share the experience with others.

The book outlines the considerable supports, financial and other, that are available and in general terms gives information as to how these can be availed of by providing contact information.

“You Are Not Alone” is a major step towards providing that much needed information for cancer patients, from one source, in clear understandable language.

While the book is primarily aimed at Donegal patients, it will be useful to patients nationwide. The book, which is free of charge, will be available after the launch, from DACC and many other locations such as Doctors Surgeries, Hospitals and Cancer Support Groups..

A meeting was held on the 26th Sept 07 to arrange for the distribution of the books throughout the county.

Volunteers have offered to help with this task. As the books are being delivered in a voluntary capacity we would ask for your patience over the next week.

We would like to extend sincere thanks to all the volunteers and to Duffy Freight for their support.

We have had requests for our book from as far away as County Kerry. Thank you Duffy Express for supporting us with these deliveries

Books are now available in the Oncology Department of Letterkenny General Hospital!

Remember you can still get a copy of the book by phoning 074 91 28400 or

 email us at equal@dacc.ie

This book is a valuable resourse and we would remind you of our wish regarding it. When you are finished with it, please pass it onto to someone else.

“ You Are Not Alone”

An information book for cancer patients, their families and friends is available on our website.

The Book is free of charge. Contact our office and details will be available on our website as they are delivered to outlets around the county.

www.dacc.ie

“I believe that we should pass on what we glean as we go through life, for others to build and turn into meaning for themselves”

A quote by a cancer survivor in 2006

“Having cancer has made me take the time to stop, see what I have and enjoy every moment”

 Cancer Patient 2007

Donegal Action for Cancer Care

“Equal Access for Equal Need”

“You Are Not Alone”

Book Launch was the 24^th September 07

“Hope mixed with medicine makes both the hope and the medicine stronger”

Foreword

The Action Strategy Sub Committee of Donegal Action for Cancer Care identified the need for a common source of information for cancer patients, their families and friends. In recognition of this need, the group decided to produce this book

                          ” You Are Not Alone”

We are aware that we cannot answer all your questions about the subject but we hope that this book will provide both initial support information and help signpost the road towards wellness. The book was written to help you understand the journey from diagnosis through to treatment and onwards to recovery. It may help you to understand the changes that can happen in your life and assist you and your family to deal with your feelings about cancer.

This book outlines the considerable supports, financial and other, that are available and in general terms gives contact information. The specific detail of these may vary from year to year as a result of governmental budgetary changes.

The treatment of cancer has advanced considerably over the recent past and health professional all over the world are developing new and better treatments. Most cancers can now be treated successfully and the future is certainly much more optimistic than ever before.

It is important to remain positive. Use all support available to you from your family, your friends and other formal support services. Remember,

“Together we stand at life’s crossroads

And view what we think is the end

But God has a much bigger vision

And He tells us it’s only a bend”

Noel A Coyle on behalf of the Action Strategy Sub Committee.”

Order of Speakers on the night of the Launch

8pm: Welcome by Compere for the evening: Mr PJ Hallinan, Inishowen Partnership Company.

8.05: Introduction: by Mr Seamus O’ Donnell, Chairperson of Donegal Action for Cancer Care.

8.10: Why we are here tonight: by Mr Noel A Coyle, Chairperson of the Action Strategy Sub Committee of DACC.

8.20: Why we funded. this book: Mr Sean Staunton, Area Executive Officer, The Citizens Information Board.

8.30: The importance of this book in the world of Oncology: Dr Janice P Richmond, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, The Oncology Department at Letterkenny General Hospital.

8.40: Presentation of The books journey: Mr Paddy Hume.PROof DACC.

Official Launch: by Margo, Donegal Person of the Year.

Refreshments

Sincere apoligies were received from Patricia Lee, Social Policy & Research Consultant who was unable to attend due to illness.

Patricia had played a key role among others who had faciliated the with the process.

The work and commitment by Patricia was acknowledged by all.

Thank You Patricia!

Picture below shows members of DACC Mr Sean Staunton, Citizens Information Board who funded the book “You Are Not Alone” at the launch. Sean is the gentleman in the middle with the a copy of the book

"You Are Not Alone' book launch.(Donegal News, 21st September)

A BOOK on the journey from diagnosis to recovery for Donegal's cancer patients, will be launched on Monday next (24 September) by Donegal for Action Cancer Care. The book entitled, "You are not Alone" provides a common source of information for cancer patients, their families and friends. The 80 page book has taken a year to produce and is written in plain English, large writing and is easy to read and understand.

Margo, a cancer survivor herself, will launch the book in the Mount Errigal Hotel at 8pm on Monday next. An open invitation has been extended to everyone to attend the launch where they can pick up a copy of the free book.

The book was written by the Action Strategy group of DACC to help people understand and cope with the journey from diagnosis through to treatment and onwards to recovery. It will help them understand the changes that can happen in their life and assist them and their family to deal with their feelings about cancer.

It is the first time a book has been produced by Cancer survivors detailing what to ask and how to deal with the financial side. The book also provides useful tips and hints provided by medical experts and also by people who have already travelled this road and who can share the experience with others.

Mary McCallion, of DACC, said the book is the first of its kind and had been specifically targeted at Donegal cancer patients.

"The book, which we naively thought would take three months to produce has taken a year to compile. Our aim was to include useful numbers, questions, medical hints, everything in one easily accessible booklet. It was something which was coming up again and again at meetings of DACC over the last two years," she explained.

Mary said that the Action Group were cancer survivors and understood the shock and the emotional upheaval when someone is diagnosed with cancer. "You Are Not Alone" is a major step towards providing that much needed information for cancer patients, from one source, in clear understandable language.

"When you are told you have cancer everything else your doctor says after that goes out of your head. It's impossible to take it in. 'You are not Alone' gives practical advice like to take somebody with you to such consultations. Everybody hears something different and you won't retain all the information. Keep a diary and drink plenty of water during treatment. It lists the importance of talking to positive people and helps with the basic things you don't think of. "You Are Not Alone' has been produced so that when coming from that consultation in total shock, you can take it out later and see what help is available," explained Mary.

The book outlines considerable supports, both emotional and practical and also covers community care, how to apply for entitlements, the medical card, travel, pensions and tax relief are all included.

"You're at your most vulnerable time in your life when diagnosed with cancer and your energy and that of your family are focused elsewhere. The booklet gives all the contact names and addresses for support and advice for all involved," explained Mary.

5,000 copies have been published and are available free. Funded by the Community Information Board, DACC Action Strategy Group were given ¤7,500 to produce the book, and assisted by Area Manager Sean Staunton. The book has specifically published with Donegal people in mind can be used as a template throughout Ireland.

"You Are Not Alone," will be available at the launch and in local libraries and doctors surgeries.

"Many people helped in the production of the book including Patricia Lee from Lee Consultants who helped us compile the book and Ann Owens from Community Information Services who helped with all the community services section," said Mary.

The book will also be available at the new DACC office which has opened at 13, St Columba's Terrace, High Road, Letterkenny. Telephone the DACC office on 074 91 28400. A new web page giving Donegal Cancer patients and their families has also been launched on line this week at www.dacc.ie or people can also access DACC by e-mailing equal@dacc.ie.

Article courtesy of Donegal News Friday 21st September 07