Mike Denver helped launch the Marie Keating Foundation’s Concert4Cancer, which takes place on Virgin Media One on Friday night.

Country music star launches Concert4Cancer fundraiser

Published: Tue 24 Aug 2021, 8:57 AM

Country Music sensation Mike Denver officially launched the Marie Keating Foundation’s Concert4Cancer taking place on Friday night (August 27) on Virgin Media One. Mike will join a stellar line-up of stars including Gary Barlow, Aslan, Johnny Logan, The Riptide Movement, Mick Flannery & Susan O'Neill among others. Presented by Ronan Keating and Ireland AM’s Anna Daly, the two-hour long concert will include surprise famous faces and compelling stories from Irish cancer patients to raise vital funds for cancer support services in Ireland.

Speaking at the launch, which included country music loving kids, Portumna's Mike said: “I’m thrilled to be lending my support to such an important cause. This will be a great family show so grab the popcorn, put the kettle on and curl up on the sofa and enjoy the show! It’s been a tough year for musicians like me so to be able to perform again is fantastic!”

Thanks to the generosity of the Irish people last year’s concert raised more than €500,000 on the night. This enabled the Foundation to bring back it’s vital cancer support services, such as the Comfort Fund grant and to grow its BRCA support group and Positive Living meetings. The hidden casualty of the pandemic has been the impact on other health services. Cancer diagnostics, treatment and support services have all been disrupted or curtailed at some point. While the incredible doctors, nurses and wider medical teams work hard to provide excellent care in these challenging times, patients have been extremely isolated having to cocoon for long periods and attend treatment, receive results and go to appointments, alone without the usual support from family and friends.

Marie Keating Foundation CEO Liz Yeates says the charity’s supportive services have been in high demand as a result. She said: “The last year and half has been extremely challenging for everyone, but especially for those on a cancer journey. Having to isolate and keep away from family and friends, all while going through treatment, has been so difficult. Throughout the pandemic, the Marie Keating Foundation has worked hard to ensure we have remained there for cancer patients and survivors, giving them a safe space to turn to when times have been tough.

“Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Irish public during last year’s concert, we were able to transition many of our important services to online delivery and to reinstate services such as the Comfort Fund. But the demand for our services has grown, with some of our support groups experiencing a 200% growth in members during the pandemic. Our nurses have stepped up to meet this increased demand, but we do need the public’s help to ensure those vital services can continue We are so grateful to Virgin Media Television and to the wonderful artists and so many more who have worked with us to get this Concert4Cancer off the ground. We hope everyone enjoys the night and to everyone who is able to donate, a massive thank you, it means the world to us and those we support.”