The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and the Irish Cancer Society have announced that they are to work together again to help raise funds which will result in the expansion of the CLIMB® initiative in the Republic of Ireland. Climb® helps children that have a close family relative who has been diagnosed with cancer. The programme educates children as part of an enjoyable, sharing, interactive experience and provides a time for the children to come together to deal with their feelings.

Clare Clarke has been a member of staff in the Ladies Gaelic Football Association for no fewer than 11 years. She is a bright, vivacious character that will be known throughout the country for her good humour and commitment to the sport. Clare was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. The mother of two showed typical resolve and determination to overcome this disease and she triumphed. However, heartbreakingly, the cancer came back, and more aggressively, two years ago.

Clare found that there was very limited access to services which help to support children who have a close family relative that has been diagnosed with cancer. The CLIMB® services were only available in Tuam or in Belfast through Cancer Focus NI. The LGFA and the Irish Cancer Society then came together with Clare and agreed to work together and raise the funds necessary to roll out the programme in Cancer Support Centres throughout the country bringing this vital service to many more children. Clare, who is currently undergoing treatment, articulates how important this initiative is in this brief YouTube video. http://youtu.be/w56nuPIZrh8

The LGFA and the Irish Cancer Society are asking clubs, throughout the country to organise a Climb4Clare. The Climb can be as simple as organising a 1 kilometre walk around a club pitch or any suitable area and if there is a hill on the path all the better. Participating clubs can also raise vital funds for themselves as they will be able to keep up to 50% of all monies raised.

The Irish Cancer Society and the LGFA combined successfully at the 2013 TG4 All Ireland Finals to raise over €20,000 for the Irish Cancer Society Action Breast Cancer programme setting a Guinness World Record along the way. This year attendees at the TG4 All Ireland Finals on September 28th will also be able to donate money to this excellent cause by texting 'CANCER' to 50300.

Speaking about the launch of the initiative LGFA President Pat Quill said 'This is a wonderful and very badly needed programme that needs to be available on a much more widespread level to children right around the country. We  know, from our experiences with the Irish Cancer Society in 2013, that they are the perfect partners for this initiative and that our clubs will rally around this fantastic cause as they did a year ago. Clare is a fantastic character who, along with her family, has been through so much, CLIMB® can help to ensure that more families and especially young children will have an outlet on which they can rely.'

Mark Mellett of the Irish Cancer Society said "Climb4Care supports the Irish Cancer Society's nationwide services particularly the CLIMB® initiative which plays a vital role in supporting children who have been closely affected by cancer. We know the challenges which a cancer diagnosis can bring to a family and we are grateful to the Ladies Gaelic Football Association for supporting the roll out of this programme. We are calling on clubs throughout the country to organise a small one kilometre climb which could make a huge difference! We are delighted to partner with the LGFA in helping children deal with the emotional effects of a loved one's diagnosis. Together with the LGFA, we won't give up until cancer does."

Information about the Climb4Clare can be found on www.ladiesgaelic.ie , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Climb4Clare or follow on Twitter on @Climb4Clare.

All funding raised can be forwarded to CLIMB4CLARE, LGFA, Croke Park, Dublin 3 and will be used to roll out the CLIMB® initiative across the country.

A donation page has been set up on www.idonate.ie/climb4clare and all donations are gratefully accepted.

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