Boots Ireland has now raised €2 million for the Irish Cancer Society, enabling more than 6,300 nights of end-of-life Night Nursing care for people with cancer. Since the relationship began in 2012, Boots Ireland team members, patients and customers have come together to raise funds for this essential service to ensure cancer patients receive the end-of-life care needed to allow them to remain in their own home.
The aim of the Boots Ireland’s partnership with the Irish Cancer Society is to increase awareness, promote cancer prevention and support people living with cancer in Ireland. Along with supporting the Night Nursing service, Boots has also trained their pharmacists to become Boots Irish Cancer Society Information Pharmacists to help support and advise people dealing with cancer. There are now over 170 Cancer Information Pharmacists as well as 70 Boots Cancer Beauty Advisors in stores across Ireland.
Stephen Watkins, Managing Director at Boots Ireland said: “Our partnership with the Irish Cancer Society is incredibly important to us as we know how cancer affects the lives of so many people in every community in Ireland. The Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses go above and beyond in providing home-based, end of life care for cancer patients. We are very proud of our Boots Ireland team member’s and customer’s ongoing commitment to supporting those affected by cancer by reaching this €2 million fundraising milestone. We remain committed to our partnership with the Irish Cancer Society and will continue to support and engage in a range of fundraising activities over the course of the year.”
Averil Power, Chief Executive Officer at the Irish Cancer Society, said: “The Society’s Night Nurses provide such great relief and comfort to patients and their loved ones at an incredibly difficult time. This vital service is provided completely free of charge and is funded almost entirely through donations. On behalf of everyone at the Irish Cancer Society, I would like to thank Boots Ireland’s staff and customers for their continued support and generosity, in helping us to provide this vital service to families in need, when they need it most.”
The Night Nursing service was established in 1986 and operates in every county in the Republic of Ireland. Night Nurses provide free end-of-life care from 11pm-7am. They care for the patient through the night and aim to ensure that they are pain free and comfortable, while also providing practical support and reassurance to family members and loved ones.
