A LOCAL Garda who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year has created a music video inspired by Elton John.
Mary Gardiner, a mum of three, originally from Bishopstown in Cork but now domociled in Tralee, has released the video to coincide with 100K in 30 Days for breast cancer in aid of The Marie Keating Foundation.
The event takes place over the month of June. Registrations are open now at www.100kin30days.ie. Also starring in the video are 10 women who all have their own experiences of breast cancer. One of them is Stephanie Blake, a mother of three boys, who is Mary’s right-hand woman.
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The beach in Cannes is swapped for Ballybunion in the brilliant video, featuring a number of well known faces, which can be viewed below.
Mary said: “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2022, I played Elton John’s song I’m Still Standing to my children. I said that it was going to be my come back song. I’ve listened to it for the last year and a half as the song has real meaning. I can really relate to the lyrics.
“I’m still off work but in 2020, I did the Jerusalem video with An Garda Siochana and thought another video would be a bit of fun.”
If it brings a smile to people’s faces, I’m happy. I have 10 brilliant women in the video with me who either all had breast cancer or are going through treatment at the minute. I met some of them through our chemotherapy sessions and kept in touch. When I asked them to take part in the video, they were just thrilled. We also have cameos from Pat Spillane, Billy Keane and Elaine Kinsella and I’m so thankful for their support. I also want to thank Timmy Dowd who produced and edited the video. He didn’t know what he was letting himself in for!”
Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2022 and started chemotherapy the following month for four months. She had a mastectomy last June and finished all of her treatment in February 2023.
“I took part in 100K in 30 Days last year while going through treatment and it really kept me going. Two days after I signed up, people had donated €4,500 and by the time I’d finished, I’d raised €40,000. The day after I finished, I went to Cork for my mastectomy, I was exhausted and needed the rest! I can’t wait to do 100K in 30 Days again in June and I’d love everyone to join me to create as much awareness as possible for breast cancer and also raise as much funds as possible for a very worthy cause. As I say, I have cancer but I’m not cancer,” said Gardiner.
100K in 30 Days have teamed up with the Marie Keating Foundation to support their vital breast cancer services.
Marie Keating lost her life to breast cancer 25 years and her son Ronan Keating will be running 100K across the 30 days of June to raise awareness and show support for the Foundation he and his siblings set up in her name.
Also taking part in 100K in 30 Days is Ronan’s wife Storm, children Missy and Jack, Dancing with the Stars Judge Arthur Gourounlian, Today FM presenter Dara Quilty, broadcasters Glenda Gilson, Norah Casey, Laura Woods and Anna Daly, to name but a few.
2023 is the fourth year of the event and to date over €4million has been raised for breast cancer services in Ireland, including the state-of-the-art Clinical Trial Centre in the new Breast Centre at Beaumont Hospital.
Some of the breast cancer services provided by the Marie Keating Foundation that will benefit from this year’s event include their community nursing service, Schools Cancer Awareness Programme, Comfort Fund, BRCA Peer To Peer Support, Survive and Thrive Programmes and Positive Living Workshops supporting the Cancer Community at every step.
You can register for the event at www.100kin30days.ie.
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