Saying it with a Purple Rose…

The vibe was seriously groovy as TV stars Bláthnaid Treacy and Dermot Bannon joined forces to show their “flower power” for the launch of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s (CFI) 65 Roses Day recently. 65 Roses Day – which derives its name from the way in which young children often first say the words “cystic fibrosis” – will take place on Friday April 12.

Bláthnaid and Dermot were most definitely smelling of roses in Dublin’s National Botanic Gardens as they urged people to get behind the annual fundraising appeal by buying a purple rose, completing a 65 Roses Challenge or donating online at www.65RosesDay.ie. There are more than 1,300 people living with cystic fibrosis in Ireland and the number is increasing each year as a result of improvements in treatment and care.

Feeling the Purple
CFI depends almost entirely on the public for the provision of its services and this 65 Roses Day is hoping to raise more than €120,000 for much-needed services for people with cystic fibrosis. These include patient grants for counselling, fertility treatment, and transplant assessment, covering the cost of a number of CF clinical staff in hospitals, and raising funds to assist in the building of the new CF in-patient unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin which serves people with CF across the North East region and beyond.

People can support 65 Roses Day by:

  • Buying a purple rose for €2 from volunteers, and in participating shopping centres and Spar Stores, or by donating online at 65RosesDay.ie
  • Completing a 65 Roses Challenge such as playing 65 holes of golf non-stop, or baking 65 muffins for a bake sale at work, or having 65 friends and neighbours around for afternoon tea – for details visit 65RosesDay.ie
  • Texting 65ROSES to 50300 for €2 [Text costs €2. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland will receive a minimum of €1.80. Service Provider: LIKE CHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.]

In the Groove for 65 Roses Day
Host of RTÉ’s Can’t Stop Dancing, Bláthnaid Treacy, is urging people to bust a move for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day:
“I think most people in the country have been touched by somebody with CF. Their day-to-day life is a lot more difficult than we even realise. We have the highest incidence of CF in the entire world, which is really shocking because we are such a small country. So, 65 Roses Day is all about raising funds to help people with CF, including a new CF in-patient unit at Beaumont Hospital, as well as research and medical supports. So, let’s get in the groove and throw some shapes to dig deep for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.”

A Must for Every Home
Of course, it takes two to tango and joining Bláthnaid at the launch was architect and star of RTÉ’s Room to Improve, Dermot Bannon. Dermot is firmly of the view that when it comes to 65 Roses Day, a home isn’t complete without some purple roses:
“One thing I know should be within everyone’s budget is buying a purple rose to support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day on Friday April 12. We have more than 1,300 people in our country who are living with cystic fibrosis and some of the most severe cases. On 65 Roses Day, it goes without saying that purple roses are a must for every home, and I’d encourage people to please lend their support to people with cystic fibrosis in whatever way they can.”

If you’d like to volunteer and lend your support on 65 Roses Day by selling purple roses in your community or workplace, simply call Brendán on LoCall 1890 311 211, email fundraising@cfireland.ie or visit 65RosesDay.ie