The Marie Keating Foundation

The Marie Keating Foundation Making cancer less frightening by enlightening. Contact:
Office: 01 6283726
Fundraising: 01 6283728


email: [email protected]
web: www.mariekeating.ie

The Marie Keating Foundation is now a leading voice in cancer awareness and information for both men and women in Ireland. The Foundation’s mission is to make cancer less frightening by enlightening and its aim is to achieve a world free from the fear of cancer. Through its community information service, the Foundation’s nurses have engaged with over 270,000 people about the causes and risk factor

s of cancer. Through its Comfort Fund, the Marie Keating Foundation provides financial assistance to people who are receiving treatment for any kind of cancer and who find themselves in financial difficulty as a result. Given the fact that there are over 200,000 cancer survivors in Ireland today, the Marie Keating Foundation supports cancer survivors through its Positive Living and Survive & Thrive programmes, which are run nationwide, free of charge, for men and women. Over 1,000 cancer survivors have attended courses and seminars since the programmes’ inception in 2014. The Survive & Thrive Programme is aimed to assist anyone who has come through treatment to adjust to their ‘new normal’ and offer practical advice and help in many areas of life including diet and exercise, emotional support and adjusting to returning to work. The Positive Living programme is for men and women living with advanced cancer and supports them in coping with their specific physical and psychological needs.

On National Cancer Survivors Day® 2026, people across the globe will come together to acknowledge cancer survivors, rais...
30/05/2026

On National Cancer Survivors Day® 2026, people across the globe will come together to acknowledge cancer survivors, raise awareness of the ongoing challenges cancer survivors face because of their disease, and – most importantly – celebrate life.

Our survivorship services at the Marie Keating Foundation led by our Director of Nursing Helen Forristal support people living with and beyond cancer and these communities are at the heart of our work. So, we want to celebrate them and all cancer survivors or those living with cancer this Sunday, June 7, 2026, to mark the 39th annual National Cancer Survivors Day® Celebration of Life.

We are joining forces with the wonderful Dearbhaile and Karen a hike to Celebrate National Cancer Survivor’s Day with a meaningful walk, followed by a restorative recovery ritual where you can enjoy a soothing sauna session and an invigorating ice bath or hot tub! All while raising funds to support the survivorship services provided by the Marie Keating Foundation. 💞

This will be an accessible route at Beautiful Bohernabreena resevoir. So please join us if you can, click the link to learn more and register for this special day of celebration.
https://www.cancertakeahike.ie/event-details/national-cancer-survivors-day-celebration-beautiful-bohernabreena

It will be a beautiful way to add to your 100km a day this June. Its not too late to register.

Our Mobile Information Unit and Nurse are Bord Bia Bloom come see us in the Wellness Village this weekend. Staffed by a ...
29/05/2026

Our Mobile Information Unit and Nurse are Bord Bia Bloom come see us in the Wellness Village this weekend.

Staffed by a specialist Marie Keating Foundation nurse, the mobile information units visit community groups, workplaces, organisations, and public places to bring cancer information straight into the heart of communities nationwide. We are available to provide information, signposting and support in remote places where you feel communities may be underserved. We are here to help.
The mobile information units are stocked with take-home information leaflets on the various cancer types. You also have the opportunity to speak in private with a highly qualified community information nurse about cancer prevention or specific cancer related question regarding yourself or your loved ones.

For more information on our mobile units’ dates including where we are this week, and how to book a visit, click
https://mariekeating.ie/cancer.../mobile-information-units/

We are back at Bord Bia Bloom in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Putting a spotlight on the importance of cancer prevention, earl...
28/05/2026

We are back at Bord Bia Bloom in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Putting a spotlight on the importance of cancer prevention, early detection and survivorship, our Gold medal winning garden "Empowering at Every Step" is an immersive garden created by acclaimed designer Robert Moore and supported by AstraZeneca and Gilead Sciences Ireland. Through a series of uplifting spaces, the garden encourages visitors to prioritise their health while reinforcing how prevention and early detection can save lives.

The garden encourages visitors to take practical, achievable steps to reduce cancer risk through healthier lifestyle choices reinforcing that prevention is not about perfection, but about small, meaningful actions over time.
The garden also reflects the importance of screening and early diagnosis.
Visitors are reminded of the importance of listening to their bodies, attending screening appointments, seeking medical advice when something feels wrong and advocating for their own health.
The space also acknowledges the reality of a cancer diagnosis and the Marie Keating Foundation’s role in supporting people at every step through nursing support, trusted information, and survivorship programmes.
The garden further highlights the need for fairer cancer outcomes in Ireland, recognising that access to screening, diagnostics, treatment, and medicines is not experienced equally across all communities. It reflects the Foundation’s ongoing advocacy work to improve access to screening, early diagnosis, and innovative cancer treatments for all patients.

Representing the five most common cancers in Ireland — bowel, breast, ,lung, prostate and skin — the garden leaves visitors with a clear takeaway: informed choices, early action and fairer systems can help save lives.
Visit our garden Empowering at Every Step – Garden Number 16, our nurse and mobile unit in the Wellness Village at Bord Bia Bloom or mariekeating.ie to learn more .

Photo by Brian McEvoy featuring Ambassador Helen Dunne with her daughters Olivia, Robyn and Isabelle with bunny Rusty from the DSPCA.

https://mariekeating.ie/2026/05/bord-bia-bloom-garden-puts-spotlight-on-early-cancer-detection/

The Marie Keating Foundation is proud to be part of the newly launched Coalition Against Sunbeds which has called for a ...
27/05/2026

The Marie Keating Foundation is proud to be part of the newly launched Coalition Against Sunbeds which has called for a total ban on sunbeds, which directly cause 5% of all melanoma skin cancers in Ireland. Sunbeds cause both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Sunbed use dramatically increases a person’s risk of developing melanoma. The risk is increased by 75% for people who use sunbeds before the age of 35.The number of people who will be diagnosed with melanoma is set to double by 2045.

1 in 20 children aged 10-17 have used sunbeds, despite legislation prohibiting their use by young people under 18.

The WHO says the cancer risk from Sunbeds is in the same category as to***co and asbestos.

The Coalition Against Sunbeds’ members include the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Skin Foundation, Melanoma Support Ireland, the Irish Association of Dermatologists, the Irish College of GPs, Breakthrough Cancer Research, the Marie Keating Foundation, UCAN and Others.

Pic: Patient ambassador Gill Costelloe pictured at the launch with our CEO Liz Yeates.

“It never crossed my mind that I’d get skin cancer. The only cream we knew about growing up was the possibility of an ic...
25/05/2026

“It never crossed my mind that I’d get skin cancer. The only cream we knew about growing up was the possibility of an ice cream on the weekend. It was never even a thought in my head until it happened”

Jim Sheehan from Fermoy in Co Cork was diagnosed with Skin Cancer in 2010. At the time Jim only told his immediate family that he had cancer, and that was his way of coping. Now fifteen years on, he shares his story to help others come to terms with the dangers of the Irish sun and take action to stay safe.

“Myself and my good wife sat down and they told us that I had a 50/50 chance of survival and that the only thing to be done would be surgery. We didn’t have all the options back then as there are now, so I had the moles removed and then later went back in to have the lymph nodes under my right arm removed as the cancer had spread. But all in all, I was very lucky.”

“I’ve changed my habits and now I just stick to the SunSmart code. Whether I’m on the golf course or in the garden, I make sure I have sunscreen on, I’m wearing my wide brimmed hat and sunglasses as well as my protective clothes. I even wear golf gloves now to protect my hands from the sun!”

Jim’s closing advice to all is

“Slip, slap, slop, slide, and seek! Then visit your doctor if you have any suspicion of changes on your skin.”

Jim supported us at Bord Bia Bloom last year helping raise awareness of early detection and cancer prevention through our "Early Bird Catches the Worm" garden.

You can see us back at this year, we cannot wait to share our new garden with you "Empowering at Every Step"

You can read Jim's full story here:
https://surviveandthrive.ie/cancer-stories/jim-sheehan/

The Marie Keating Foundation holds free Positive Living meetings for men and women living with metastatic cancer. We urg...
22/05/2026

The Marie Keating Foundation holds free Positive Living meetings for men and women living with metastatic cancer.

We urge people who are living with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis to reach out and engage with a community that understands the challenges this diagnosis presents.

This programme offers attendees both established and new, a chance to meet and talk with others affected by the disease and receive expert advice and information safely.

Positive Living is free to attend but registration is essential.

Our next meeting is June 10th

Learn more here:
https://mariekeating.ie/events/positive-living-meeting-10th-june-2026/

The Marie Keating Foundation’s BRCA Online Support Group is designed to give, men and women with a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 diag...
19/05/2026

The Marie Keating Foundation’s BRCA Online Support Group is designed to give, men and women with a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 diagnosis a safe space where they can meet others who are on a similar journey and share experiences together. Our next session will be held on Thursday May 28th at 6pm.

Sessions will be coordinated by a Marie Keating Foundation nurse and a trained BRCA Peer to Peer volunteer who can offer additional support .

Register interest and more information by clicking the link
https://mariekeating.ie/events/brca-online-meeting-may-2026-2/

Vivienne Glynn lost her son Eavan to Bowel Cancer aged just 22. Eavan presented with symptoms, but they were diagnosed a...
18/05/2026

Vivienne Glynn lost her son Eavan to Bowel Cancer aged just 22. Eavan presented with symptoms, but they were diagnosed as a stomach infection over multiple visits to his doctor.

Due to his young age, Bowel Cancer was not considered initially although he was presenting with symptoms. His parents continued to look for answers as they saw their son in pain. They took him to the Beacon hospital in the hopes that they could help them find out what was happening. It was here that they got an answer that was the last thing they expected with their young, fit 22 year old son.

His family are sharing his story to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of Bowel Cancer and highlight that you are never too young for Bowel Cancer. They hope that in sharing their voice and Eavans story they can help other families.

This is their story:
https://surviveandthrive.ie/cancer-stories/eavan-glynn/

If you see RED (blood) in your YELLOW (urine) get the GREEN light and go to see your GP. It may be nothing, but the earl...
17/05/2026

If you see RED (blood) in your YELLOW (urine) get the GREEN light and go to see your GP. It may be nothing, but the earlier you know, the better the outcome.

Symptoms of bladder cancer
-Blood in the urine (p*e) – it may be red, pink or brown in colour.
-Needing to pass urine urgently.
-Passing urine more often.
-A burning feeling when you pass urine.
-These symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than cancer, but it’s important to go to the GP and get any unusual changes checked.

Learn more
https://mariekeating.ie/cancer-information/bladder-cancer/

The Marie Keating Foundation 9th annual BRCA seminar took place in the Springfield Hotel, Leixlip today and what an incr...
15/05/2026

The Marie Keating Foundation 9th annual BRCA seminar took place in the Springfield Hotel, Leixlip today and what an incredibly empowering, informative day it was. It was fantastic to see so many of our BRCA community in attendance with their families and friends. A huge thanks to all of our incredible speakers, to our BRCA p*er to p*er supporters, information stands and of course our Assistant Director of Nursing Bernie Carter who organises this remarkable event every year.

We could not host free seminars like this without the support of our sponsors so a special thanks to and

Recordings of some of the days topics will be available soon so stay tuned for that.

Address

Workways Office 26, Block 5, High Street Tallaght
Dublin
D24YK8N

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+35316283726

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