Lollipop Day, the annual Oesophageal Cancer Fund awareness and fundraising campaign, takes place this year on Friday 27.02 and on Saturday 28.02 2026. We are inviting supporters and volunteers across the country to get involved in whatever way that you can.
We are delighted to launch the Oesophageal Cancer Fund’s 2024 Annual Report.
This is our accountability statement to our family, care, research, medical, funding and regulatory communities.
Most importantly, it reminds families right across the country affected by Oesophageal Cancer who we are, what we do, and how we can help, as they never walk this journey alone.
It shows where the money was raised and how it was spent in 2024, with value for money and making each donation count front and centre for Team OCF.
John Clarke - Barrett's Oesophagus patient & Oesophageal Cancer awareness campaigner talks to OCF Board member Sean Broderick.
John shares his story and journey with Barrett's Oesophagus. Powerful stuff.
Please know the symptoms. It will save your life. Visit your GP if you can relate to any of the symptoms in John's story.
H&B Winter Warrior 2026: Extreme Obstacle Course Madness!
GO THROUGH THE DEPTHS OF Hell this WINTER. Get ready for HELL & BACK Winter Warrior 2026 – a Winter Trail Run unlike any other! Participants can tackle a half marathon distance (21KM) consisting of a 7KM loop packed with insane obstacles like Heartbreak Ridge, Valley of Pain, and Satan’s Pit.
Athletics Ireland is the National Governing Body for Athletics in Ireland. Our primary objective is to promote and develop the sport at every level from recreational running and schools competitions through to supporting Ireland's elite athletes in international competition.
A key objective for OCF is to support, influence and inform the development of impactful research that addresses the important clinical challenges that Oesophageal Cancer patients, their families and carers face on an ongoing basis. We do this through a collaborative model that is always patient centred, with the aim of finding new methods and treatments from prevention to early diagnosis, treatment and through survivorship. Therefore, we are already committed to a significant investment of money and resources into research of 30% of our operational budget while at the same time playing our part in the cancer care community in Ireland.
Our funding of the Neo-Aegis Clinical Trial concluded in 2022/3. This was a major, international randomised controlled trial developed by Irish Clinicians, and sponsored by Cancer Trials Ireland. The trial recruited 377 people with
Oesophageal Cancer, 34% of whom are based in Ireland with the remainder in France, Denmark and the UK. 362 patients were evaluable. The trial set out to establish the best available treatment for patients presenting with advanced but potentially curable Oesophageal Cancer, and compared chemotherapy alone combined with surgery, against a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to surgery.
At the Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF), we fill the gap in support, awareness, and research for Oesophageal Cancer a disease that impacts 500 families in Ireland each year. In fact, Ireland faces one of the highest rates of this cancer globally which is the sixth leading cause of cancer- related deaths. Therefore, the fight against Oesophageal Cancer is urgent and real. Early detection is our best weapon in increasing the 5-year survival rates of just 24% in the Republic of Ireland and 19% in Northern Ireland. Treatment typically involves radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery to remove the oesophagus with implications for diet, sleep and exercise that last a lifetime.
At OCF, we are unwavering in our commitment to achieving our Vision and Mission to improve these survival odds through heightened awareness and early detection. However, it takes significant time and money and we operate in a tough fundraising climate, with no State funding (so far). It takes up to €500,000 annually to fuel our mission at OCF and we did it in 2023 thanks to the loyal support of our donors and supporters.
By Q4 2024, we will have secured 70% of what we need, leaving €150,000
to raise by Christmas. Our fundraising drive is non-stop, as we depend 100% on donations from the public. We are very proud to be Triple Locked by the Charities Institute of Ireland, demonstrating our commitment to good governance and financial transparency in all we do.
Great to meet the fantastic Trish Rackard and receive an amazing donation of €5177.19 for Oesophageal Cancer Fund from the Gala Dinner Dance fundraiser in memory of Trish's husband Willie Rackard. We send all our thanks and gratitude to Trish, Conor, the Rackard family and friends for this great event.
Davie, Chris and Bobby (pictured) who raised €5,825 through their Run Galway Bay Fundraiser , October 2024.
Amazing men who dedicated their fundraiser to their family members who have gone through an oesophageal cancer journey.
HUGE thanks to the Hospital Saturday Fund (HSF)
Pictured in our OCF Dublin HQ LtoR : Craig Bloome, Acting National Sales Manager, HSF Health Plan, Carmel Doyle, CEO, Oesophageal Cancer Fund and Paul Clare, MD of HSF Health Plan, representing the The Hospital Saturday Fund.
Paul & Craig presented Carmel with a €10,000 grant to help fund OCF’s Patient Support Programme, including forthcoming meetings in Cork (Silver Springs) on 28th September; in Dublin (Talbot Stillorgan) on 19th October and Galway (Maldron) 23rd November.
On the 15th of June 2024, The Lalor Family will be doing a skydive in aid of the Oesophageal cancer Fund (OCF). This charity is one that is close to our hearts as dad, Philip was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer 9 years ago. Thankfully with an early diagnosis dad had successful treatment and with regular routine check ups he has recovered from his cancer.
We will be forever grateful for Professor Reynolds and his team in St. James' Hospital, Dublin for everything they have done for dad. The Oesophageal cancer fund carries out an annual lollipop day across Ireland to raise awareness and funds for Oesophageal cancer research. Since dad's diagnosis my family and I have participated in this annual event.
'Cycle4Des' - a fundraiser involving family and friends of the late Des Lynch , Quin Co. Clare.
A dedicated local community who cycled 130km from Quin to Athenry and back again, last November 18th!
Have raised over €54,333 for the Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF).
In June 16th 2024 we will both be travelling to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest freestanding mountain, in aid of Oesophageal Cancer. This charity is one that is close to our hearts, as our dad, Conor O’ Duffy, passed away from Oesophageal cancer in 2004 when we were 7 and 4 years old.
Our decision to climb Kilimanjaro stemmed from our own dad’s journey to the summit in 2003, in aid of the National Children’s Hospital, Dublin, while he was simultaneously battling cancer. We will be Climbing on the year that marks his 20th anniversary.
Oesophageal cancer is cancer of the oesophagus also known as the gullet or food pipe.
Ireland has approximately 500 new cases of Oesophageal Cancer annually — one of the highest rates in Europe. More so than with many other cancers, the early signs of Oesophageal Cancer are easy to overlook. Many people could be tempted to dismiss what can seem to be digestive complaints,..
Early detection of Oesophageal Cancer is vital, and OCF works to promote awareness of the signs and symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer.
When abnormal (or bad) cells develop in the lining of the lower end of the oesophagus, it is not cancer, but a pre-cancerous condition known as Barrett’s Oesophagus.
A small number of people (less than 1%) with Barrett’s Oesophagus may go on to develop cancer.
The main cause of Barrett’s Oesophagus is long-term persistent, severe or chronic acid reflux, which can inflame the oesophagus.
Any cancer diagnosis can be a worrying and daunting time for any patient and their loved ones. Your journey will be as individual as you are.
At such a sensitive time it can be hard to get your head around it all, so remember you’re fully supported by a team of medical professionals who will collaborate closely to help you on your journey inside the hospital walls, as well as a dedicated team of nurse specialists to enhance your post-surgery-recovery.
Each stage of this journey can bring its own challenges, it can be a lonely, stressful and isolating time. It’s important to think holistically, and to safeguard your nutritional, physical and psychological wellbeing as well as your overall outlook.
The Oesophageal Cancer Fund’s fundraising efforts have supported a number of different research projects and programmes that are on the very cutting edge of research into Oesophageal Cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
If you would like to find out more information on the research we have funded and our current research commitments and plans this can be found in the Patient Support & Resources & Research Section of our website.
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with Barrett’s Oesophagus or Oesophageal cancer, you may want to find out more and access our Information and Resources.
Whatever stage you’re at, from diagnosis, starting treatment to post-surgery to longer-term recuperation and recovery strategies, the most important thing to know is you are not alone. Some of the information may be useful to you can find here.
The Oesophageal Cancer Fund’s fundraising efforts have supported a number of different research projects and programmes that are on the very cutting edge of research into Oesophageal Cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
If you would like to find out more information on the research we have funded and our current research commitments and plans this can be found in the Patient Support & Resources & Research Section of our website.
The Oesophageal Cancer Fund is the national charity for Oesophageal Cancer in Ireland. Bringing the good fight to a bad cancer. The Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) was founded on a challenge from Lucilla Hyland, a young woman diagnosed with Oesophageal Cancer in 2001 who sadly lost her hard fought battle.
Lucilla envisioned that everyone affected by Oesophageal Cancer receives the earliest and best support and treatment possible. Lucilla wanted there to be better awareness of Oesophageal Cancer – the risks and symptoms – to deliver early diagnosis and successful treatments.
Lucilla Hyland laid down a challenge and we are unwavering in our determination to deliver, so that everyone affected by Oesophageal Cancer gets the earliest and best support and treatment possible. This is the Vision of The Oesophageal Cancer Fund. The Oesophageal Cancer Fund works in partnership with patients, families, clinicians, researchers, and other support and advocacy organisations this is our Mission.
There are a great number of ways that you can choose to get involved with The Oesophageal Cancer Fund; volunteering of your time and energy is a way to do this, it genuinely means so much to us. For example, volunteers are hands down the key reason Lollipop Day – our national fundraising days are consistently successful.
Your help is far-reaching. By choosing to volunteer your time, however possible for you, you’re joining us in our vision that everyone affected by Oesophageal Cancer gets the earliest and best support and treatment possible..
Though we have a very small core team, a lot of our work in the community is carried out by dedicated volunteers, our own team of true everyday heroes. If you have time and energy to give to this most worthy cause, consider volunteering — your involvement can be scaled up or down with your availability, and the specific role tailored to your own unique talents and areas of interest.
“I had been suffering from pain and discomfort in my chest when I heard OCF patron Pádraig Harrington on the radio talking about his father who had passed away from Oesophageal Cancer.
He mentioned his father’s symptoms and that he used to take medication for acid reflux. That really struck a chord with me. If I hadn’t heard Padraig that day, I might not have done anything for six months, or even a year.
I could have just put off the discomfort as indigestion. I was lucky that my Oesophageal Cancer was detected early.
