White ribbons go on sale to raise funds for lung cancer research 

Cancer patients Samantha Vaughan and Gillian Ryan were both diagnosed with lung cancer at young ages and, as non-smokers, were shocked.

White ribbons to raise funds for lung cancer research will be launched in Ireland for the first time on Wednesday in a campaign driven by two women treated in Cork for the disease.

Up to now there has not been a ribbon for this cancer, even though around 2,600 people are diagnosed every year. It is the main reason for cancer deaths in Ireland, responsible for around 20%.

Samantha Vaughan and Gillian Ryan were both diagnosed at young ages and, as non-smokers, were shocked to be affected by this type of cancer.

Ms Vaughan lives in Laois and is being treated at Cork University Hospital.

“I’m on a clinical trial, I’m two years into this now thanks to research,” she said. 

That trial has impacted me and my family; that is why I’m so into supporting research now. I want to give back.

She has already been giving out the ribbons through her Instagram page and said: “It’s fantastic, they’re doing really well. They’re in some shops already."

The campaign is backed by Cork-based charity Breakthrough Cancer Research. It is being launched at Leinster House by health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

The minister has previously described the two women as “powerhouses” for their drive to get this campaign up and running.

Ms Vaughan even has one school already involved. She urged people to look out for the ribbons or to contact the charity if they would like a box of ribbons to sell.

“All the funds are going into lung cancer research, that’s the only reason we wanted to do this,” she said.

It’s so fantastic we can make such an impact with this. We are just two little people in a big country, and it’s great that this campaign could have such an impact. 

Ms Ryan, from Bandon, shared on Instagram on Tuesday that she is not only attending the launch but also getting the results of another key scan. It is now four years since she was diagnosed aged just 40.

“The old Gillian died that day,” she said.

“But somehow in the ashes of that version of me, a new one was born. One who refuses to give up, who finds light in the darkest places, and who believes hope is stronger than fear.” 

Ms Vaughan also advised anyone interested in cancer research to attend the charity’s Cancer Revolution exhibition in Dublin. This free exhibition runs until December 31 at Stephen’s Green shopping centre.