A very successful Awareness Rally was organised in May 06 at 10 days notice. On that day over 15,000 people attended on a wet and windy Sunday. To achieve this success required not only the commitment of the people of Donegal but a lot of hard work by DACC.

This required the organising committee to practically give up all their other commitments for the 10 days. Meeting after meeting, phone call after phone call, took place to ensure that not only would the day achieve it’s aim, but that this would be in a dignified, respectful and safe manner for all who attended. This meant finding out the regulations regarding such a gathering, applying for permission to do so, finding a suitable venue, meeting with The Gardai, the Urban Council, The Car Park people, the printers, recruiting volunteers for the day, to name but a few as well as recruiting people in local areas to distribute fliers.   

Again for the Candlelight Vigil in June where over 1000 people attended the front of Letterkenny General Hospital on a Friday night between 10pm and midnight. To bring this about it required time, hard work and commitment from the organising group. Paramount to the organising committee were that it’s aim would be achieved as well as the safety and comfort of all of those attending. For seeing ever eventuality is not always possible but it requires thought and energy to be prepared.

It had been planned to lobby local politicians at their local clinics, in a quiet and respectful manner over the summer months. Plans were in place for this, but it was then decided that this might not be a good time to do so.

During this time the need for a worker to help with the administration was identified. An application was made to FAS and at short notice we were granted a part time worker. Unfortunately, DACC did not have an office of it’s own to house this worker but with FAS’s help, Letterkenny Community Development Project agreed to provide office space for our worker.

Meetings were ongoing with FAS at this time ensuring that a Job Description etc were drawn up as well as meetings regarding FAS’s requirements from DACC. Denise Brown who was one of the secretaries with DACC, met FAS requirements and became the new Administrative Assistant with DACC.A very capable person. One of the requirements by FAS was that Denise had to give up her voluntary post on the Executive Committee. Unfortunately Denise felt that her work was impacting on her family life and resigned her job.

Another application was made to FAS, again this requires meetings and someone to undertake to make this application and follow it up.

We are delighted that we will secure another part time worker in August this year.  

After the summer, meetings were still been undertaken to look at the way forward. Letters were written to politicians and those who were in a position to possibly influence or promote the cause of DACC. These letters were also being followed by phone calls to relevant people.

An eye was kept on the press to see who might be visiting the county so that meetings could be pursued.An example of these, the frustrations experienced and work commitment from DACC would be the meetings with Mr Enda Kenny and An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Mr Enda Kenny was coming to the county in April. We read this in the local press. Straight away DACC got in contact with the relevant people by phone requesting a meeting. After much “toing and froing” this meeting would have been a 2 minute meeting along with other groups.

DACC felt that cancer services and indeed the lack of them require more time and a better commitment than that. This is not a critism as we acknowledge that these politicians may have tight schedules but this is used to highlight, that it takes time and people in DACC to keep chasing these things. That night an official request was made for a sit down meeting at the next visit to the county in a few weeks time. This again requires people in DACC who are prepared to sit at bedtime and do this.

Most people would not be aware of this and indeed may not have thought about how much time, effort, communication and commitment it takes to chase up a lot of things. 

The same is to be said of meetings with Minister Mary Harney and An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Every time a written request goes to our Taoisaech or Minister a copy of this is forwarded to our local politicians for their information and support. This just doesn’t happen. People have to chase these all up and even more frustrating is the number of times we are “brushed off” or shifted from one to another, given promises that don’t happen. Ever time a meeting is secured there has to be a meeting to agree questions and issues to be raised and an agreed format for the meeting. Ever time we are “knocked back” it requires energy and a strong belief in the need for improved cancer services for the people of Donegal to get up and keep going.

People ask us what are our local politicians are doing for us. Again letters requesting meetings are written and posted to them. 

In November some people in their own right attended a talk in the Mount Errigal Hotel given by a Dr Barry Bitman. This event was organised by Deirdre Grant. During the talk a few questions came from the floor regarding cancer care and services by those who were members of DACC. Dr Bitman then asked to meet with those who were involved with DACC for a short meeting after his talk. Those who attended both the talk and the meeting were impressed by what the man was saying and the common sense approach of what he was saying, although everyone was still being cautious not to be taken in by what was said without further information or research. This information was like everything in DACC, taken back to the County Committee for further discussion. Deirdre Grant issued an invitation to go with her in Dec to visit Dr Bitmans Wellness Centre. The County Committee decision was to research all possibilities and “rule nothing in and nothing out”.

The majority agreed that if it had the potential to save one life then we shouldn’t be saying no to the opportunity without the relevant information.Controversy arose over this visit with it being said that DACC were engaging in supporting private healthcare. DACC were not then and are not supporting private healthcare and are very clear about “Equal Access for Equal Need”. DACC supports researching the possibility of a “community service for the community owned by the community”After this some members of DACC resigned and it was widely reported that there was a split in DACC. DACC would like to thank those who left for their contribution, respect their decision and wish them well.

DACC is very much business as usual, going from strength to strength, the door is always open and all are welcome. Cancer knows no boundaries and will affect everyone in some way during their lifetime, for this reason we have no time to waste on the past only to learn from it. 

During this time the need for an information booklet for cancer patients and their families was identified by cancer patients.

It was acknowledged that there were booklets available but the cancer patients involved felt that this did not meet their needs. A decision was taken to do it. Again like all decisions this was made at County Committee level.

Sources of possible funding were idenfied and an application made to Comhairle to fund this proposed booklet. Again this requires people to fill in application forms, meet with the funders and do the follow up work.

We are delighted that Comhairle provided funding for this recognising that this booklet is a template for other parts of the country.

Work has been ongoing on the booklet with information being gathered and meetings happening on a very regular basis. This booklet will be ready for circulation and launch after the summer. Remember this is a booklet for cancer patients and their families complied by cancer patients and their families.   

During this time we would ask that you remember that monthly meetings are also happening with every effort being made to keep in contact with the local committee’s. Sometimes this can be difficult and we don’t always get it right. Having a new worker will help us ensure that all local committees have the right structures in place. In order for everyone to feel involved and respected , communication is paramount between County Committee’s and those attending Local committee. Each person has a responsibility and all the work should not be left to the few. 

Along with this was the fact that DACC were in the process of securing new office premises since last Oct. Again this required meetings, phone calls and letters. Unfortunately this in the last 2 months proved not to be viable and would be very costly for DACC. Considerable time and energy was used in the pursuit of this.A new office has since been located and is indeed now ready for opening. This office is situated us off the High Rd.Again more meetings and hard work in not only getting it ready but sorting out issues from the last proposed office.  

DACC is made up of individuals who give their time and energy in a voluntary capacity. Not only are a lot of these people cancer patients themselves, or members of their families, some are people with other chronic or life threatening diseases but they also have lives and commitments outside of DACC.

The above is just a short summary of some of the ongoing work of the organisation. We hope that it will give you a better understanding of what goes on within the organisation on an ongoing basis.

Together we can achieve a lot, but we need more help with the work as there is so much more we could do.