Mayor Mary Linehan Foley The Mayor of the County of Cork launches new car for chemotherapy transport from Beara.

Mayor Mary Linehan Foley The Mayor of the County of Cork launches new car for chemotherapy transport from Beara.

On 30th October, Mayor Mary Linehan Foley formally inaugurated the newest addition to Cancer Connects' fleet in Castletownbere. The voluntary drivers, staff, and Board members were honoured to welcome the Mayor to the community as she undertook the significant role of unveiling the new vehicle, a Toyota Hybrid. In her speech, Mayor Linehan Foley highlighted the positive impact that the bespoke cancer transport service is having throughout the county. She acknowledged the additional stress imposed on the residents of Beara who must undertake long journeys to attend treatments in Cork City.

Cancer Connect has had a vehicle stationed in Castletownbere since 2018 to serve the needs of local voluntary drivers. This vehicle is dedicated to transporting patients to Cork hospitals for chemotherapy, consultations, procedures, and various other cancer-related appointments. Recognising the need for an upgrade to ensure ongoing comfort and reliability on the lengthy journey to Cork, Cancer Connect applied for funding from the Cork County Council Community Fund and was pleased to be successful.

The grant of €10,000 enabled us to acquire a suitable vehicle capable of accommodating both passengers and drivers during the four-hour round trip. We extend our sincere gratitude to Cork County Council for their support in making this possible. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Macroom Motors for their exemplary customer service, generous support, and competitive pricing on the vehicle. This hybrid Toyota is a distinguished vehicle, ideally suited to provide the smooth and comfortable transportation experience offered to each passenger.

The Beara community has demonstrated remarkable loyalty and commitment to Cancer Connect, making considerable efforts over the years to ensure that this vital transportation service remains accessible and of a high standard. We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to both the community and Pauline Lynch in the Cork County Council for their invaluable support in facilitating this initiative.