"What is crucial is that our services continue to operate."

The Marie Keating Foundation has issued an urgent appeal for the public's support amid the coronavirus outbreak. The charity, which offers cancer services and information to patients across the county, has been gravely affected by the outbreak as they have been forced to cancel all of their upcoming fundraisers and events. This has undoubtedly had an effect on the Marie Keating Foundation's day to day operations, as they rely heavily on events to fund their cancer prevention, awareness and support services. Director of fundraising Linda Keating says the cancelations will have a "devastating" effect on their work. “The Marie Keating Foundation is so reliant on our main source of income, namely our own events and the public getting behind us with fun runs, bake sales, sponsored cycles etc, that for all of these to be cancelled immediately with little notice is potentially devastating for us," she says. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9_dd5JqZYG/ "We really do need the public’s help to help us continue to offer help to those we support who are now more vulnerable than ever.” The charity has started adapting many of its services into online or webinar formats to ensure that patients are still receiving support. A number of Marie Keating Foundation nurses have also been redeployed to work in contact tracing or helplines for the HSE. The group's director of nursing Helen Forristal says that many patients are now in need of cancer support "more than ever." “We took the difficult decision to suspend our monthly Positive Living patient support group meetings for women living with metastatic breast cancer, but this is a group that badly needs advice and support particularly during this time of uncertainty and isolation," she says. "Our nurses are continuing to hold these meetings s with members on-line and are in daily communication with the group via messaging services. What is crucial is that our services continue to operate." You can donate €4 to the Marie Keating Foundation by texting MARIE to 50300 or by going to www.mariekeating.ie/donate.