Hello everyone.

As Miss Wexford and a Miss Ireland 2018 finalist, I am relaunching my Cervical Cancer Awareness Campain with the incredibly supportive 'Voodoo Rooms' nightclub Cork City. I have named the Awareness campaign “LE CHEILE” as we must all come together to raise awareness on cervical cancer awareness and we must support those that support cancer suffers. On  Friday 7th of September,  we are hosting a fundraiser in Voodoo Rooms to promote the 'Pearl of Wisdom' campaign, the emblem for Cervical Cancer prevention. We will distribute the 'Pearl of Wisdom' packs for everyone to wear and share the pearl, in solidarity with those affected by Cervical Cancer. The 'Pearl of Wisdom' pack also contains resources around cervical health. All money raised will go to the outstanding Cork ARC cancer support house. 

According to Cervical Check, this year, approximately 300 women in Ireland will be diagnosed with Cervical Cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide. With this, 90 lives will be lost. 90 young women will die from Cervical Cancer this year, now a preventable cause of death. 

To prevent cervical cancer, early detection is critical. This involves availing of the HPV vacine and also is best done with regular cervical screening. All women in Ireland, aged between 25-60 can avail of free screening with Cervical Check Ireland. 

The aim of “Le Cheile”?— is to encourage the girls and women of Ireland to take advantage of the expert services freely available to them. In the words of Dr. Ciara Kelly, GP, Broadcaster and Columist, she states, "there are many things worse than a smear test - although there are few enough things worse than the diagnosis of cervical cancer."

All funds generously raised in Voodoo Rooms on the Cervical Cancer Awareness night will go to Cork ARC. Cork ARC is a cancer support house based in Cork City, Youghal and Bantry who support all those affected by cancer; both the cancer patients themselves and their families. Cork ARC provides such a wide range of services from reflexology, diet information evenings, bereavement support, even just a listening ear...the list goes on!! 

These services are completely free of charge to all those associated with cancer. Cork ARC are also a drop in support centre where cancer suffers and/or family members may just drop in to have a chat with a trained listener or nurse to talk about whatever they want to talk about. I am passionate about giving back and helping to raise awareness to those most worthy. I want to use my platform to help charities and Cork ARC to not only avail of fundraising but to advertise their services to those who may need them most.

I am using my platform in the Miss Ireland competition to educate the people of Ireland on Cervical health - especially in light of the recent screening scandal. We must come together, LE CHEILE, to remember and promote the sheer importance of screenings. We all have a role in supporting our mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, granddaughters and ourselves in Cervical Cancer awareness. Screenings have saved lives in the past and will continue to save lives.

Thank you for taking time to read this. Please share and donate what you can.

Thanking you from the bottom of my heart.