Rather than collecting for an essential piece of equipment, a cancer support service in East Galway must now turn their attention towards providing CCTV cameras on their property following a break-in by vandals to the property.
The East Galway and Midlands Cancer Centre in Ballinasloe were fundraising to purchase a car that would bring patients to and from radiotherapy sessions in Galway city but some of this money must now go towards security cameras following this incident.
It is something that the volunteer group had certainly not budgeted for and are appalled that vandals broke in and caused extensive damage to a polytunnel that is used by cancer patients to grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers.
And what made the incident even more upsetting is the fact that the vandals wrote sexual explicit graffiti on the polytunnel that was provided at a cost of €3,200, which was all fundraised.
Gardaí are investigating the vandalism which occurred at the centre which is located close to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. It is situated on a quarter acre site and was established in the house there back in 2010.
It became a chosen charity of Boston Scientific who raised considerable funding for the house and property to be purchased. It provides a service for around 140 to 160 cancer patients every week.
Vicky Costello, who is a volunteer and works in the Oncology Department at Portiuncula, told The Connacht Tribune that the polytunnel is a vital asset to those recovering from cancer and is fully wheelchair accessible.
“What happened on this particular night is so frustrating and upsetting. The polytunnel was vandalised by individuals who cut and put holes through the plastic and drew sexually explicit graffiti on it.
“The polytunnel cost in the region of €3,000 and can be repaired at not a great cost. But unfortunately due to this vandalism, we feel as a committee that we now need to invest in CCTV cameras which is an expense we haven’t budgeted for.
“We are currently fundraising to buy a car to help people travel to and from radiotherapy in Galway and this expense takes from our fundraising efforts”, Vicky explained.
The gardens where the polytunnel is located were designed around two walking circles. It is used by the cancer patients and even by a 94-year-old man who comes there on a regular basis to help out.
The East Galway and Midlands Cancer Centre (ECMC) is open five days a week along with several evenings and it is fully operated by volunteers.
Some of the services offered include, a drop-in centre, several support groups for those breast, prostate and colorectal cancers, complimentary therapies like massage, reflexology, acupuncture, bio-energy healing and many more. They have the service a social worker, chiropodist along with psychotherapy and counselling.
There is an active art group and a “something to sing about” choir. They regularly host information evenings and cancer related conferences.
“In fact we are the first cancer support centre in Ireland to offer services of a gym to aid recovery from disease. This service offers a walking programme and resistance training and is delivered by trained volunteers with an interest in health and fitness,” Vicky Costello added.
The house is staffed by trained volunteers and all services are free to clients. All the therapists volunteer their services free of charge. “Everything we do at centre is client focused and all running costs are met by fundraising. We do not receive state funding and all staff work give of their own time to help out,” Vicky said.
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