Selfie craze raises further funds for cancer society

A leading cancer group has been “overwhelmed” by the “phenomenal” response by the public after a viral online awareness campaign raised €500,000 for services since Wednesday — including over €200,000 in 24 hours.

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) issued the public thank you after more than 120,000 women across the country took part in the ongoing grassroots “No Make-Up Selfie” initiative.

The campaign, which has become a worldwide hit, involves women taking pictures of themselves without make-up and publishing them on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

It has been organised to show support for people battling breast cancer and to highlight the need for donations to be made to vital services.

While the ICS was not involved in organising the initiative, it has benefited to the tune of almost €500,000 to date.

Mark Mellet, head of fundraising at the charity, said the money is badly needed and will go directly to women who need it most. “We are overwhelmed by the phenomenal response from the Irish public as a result of the #nomakeupselfie movement,” he said.

“Since the spontaneous campaign started, the ICS has received over €400,000 in donations, doubling from €200,000 in the last 24 hours alone.

“The funds raised from this extraordinary online response will go towards our major investment in breast cancer research and towards the provision of our free services for cancer patients, including breast cancer patients.”

A group organising the donation text services, Like Charity, said last night almost €500,000 has already been provided by 120,000 members of the public.

“This just goes to prove that, with the right tools, we remain one of the most generous nations in Europe,” a spokesman said.

While the fundraising drive is leading to a badly- needed increase in cancer service’s budgets, problems remain.

Latest board meeting minutes of the National Cancer Registry, published in the Medical Independent, show the group is continuing to lose researchers.

The documents noted that financial difficulties are leading “to a loss of expertise as there is no funding to extend their employment. There is also a growing problem with the volume of data which has accumulated, for which the registry has no resources to analyse and write up”.

* Anyone wishing to donate €4 can text ‘Pink’ to 50300, or call 1850 606060.