Purple roses to support CF patients in Cavan
-Katie Forde -
A Cavan mother, who has relentlessly advocated for people living with Cystic Fibrosis, emphasises how fundraising can make “a huge difference” in improving the lives of those affected by the condition.
65 Roses Day, the national flag day for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI), will be held today (Friday), April 11, to generate crucial funds to support people living with Cystic Fibrosis.
Cavan people have a proud tradition in fundraising for CFI and their efforts have made a significant impact, greatly improving the lives of many. This peaked in 2014 with the construction of a dedicated outpatient suite at Cavan General Hospital for patients with Cystic Fibrosis.
While there is nothing specific planned for 65 Roses day in Cavan, watch out for outlets selling purple roses, the symbol for 65 Roses Day.
Whether it’s a charity event, creating visibility, or simply spreading the word, every effort makes a difference. Lorraine O’Neill, a mother of three living in Cavan, has been deeply involved in the fight for this cause.
“We always used to do huge fundraisers. For a while it was almost like it was Cystic Fibrosis day every day; we did so much.”
We asked Lorraine what inspired her to start advocating for CF awareness.
“My daughter was diagnosed with the condition in 2009. At the time when she was born, Cystic Fibrosis was very much a different disease. The life expectancy was said to be around 21 or 22. There were no specific facilities, and we were constantly going from hospital to hospital.
“This set off alarm bells in my head,” recalls Lorraine.
“I got in contact with a doctor and, bit by bit, we started to look deeper into specific needs for Cystic Fibrosis. So from there, with the help of Cystic Fibrosis Cavan, I started fundraisers. But yes, it was the lack of facilities that got me going for a long, long time.”
Fast forward to 2024, and, now, there is no definite life expectancy for those with Cystic Fibrosis because people with the condition can go on to live normal lives given the right treatments.
Lorraine has done an incredible amount for CFI’s Cavan branch, and all the many functions raised crucial funds for their activities.
“There were so many. I had a group of people who took part in several different marathons. That group alone raised over €150,000. Then there was the Cuilcagh Challenge. We did that for five years, and that was another €60,000-€70,000.
“There were coffee mornings, we ran half marathons. We even built rooms in Cavan hospital. We had so many different events.”
While financial support is crucial, Lorraine said just raising awareness of the condition can have a meaningful impact.
“The only thing I knew when my daughter was diagnosed was that you died young.
“There wasn’t enough information about Cystic Fibrosis. By fundraising and bringing awareness, we’re not only getting the money for facilities, but also providing understanding and knowledge for families. And that’s very important for them too. It makes a huge difference.”
Lorraine encouraged anyone interested in getting involved to reach out to CFI, as they offer excellent resources.
“I myself will admit, I have taken my foot off the pedal a bit in recent times. I needed to take a step back.
“At the time I was fighting for everyone. And then my daughter went on the trial drug, and I realised that I needed to start fighting for just her.
“But I would hope that, although I don’t play as big a role as I used to, people are still bringing awareness, because we are all still living with this condition in our lives. So yes, I’m all on for more involvement and more help. I think it’s great.”