Dalata’s Drive to Defeat Cancer raises €363,000 for Marie Keating Foundation

Dalata Hotel Group has raised over €363,000 for the Marie Keating Foundation‘s cancer outreach service as part of its ‘Drive to Defeat Cancer’ campaign.

Funds raised by Clayton and Maldron hotel operator will be used to purchase two new mobile information units and help to fund five new specialist nurses, up from two at the Marie Keating Foundation previously.

Dalata estimated that the funds will facilitate 63,000 more life-saving conversations as well.

An estimated 42,000 people in Ireland are diagnosed with cancer every year, meaning that one in two people will be affected in our lifetime.

Dalata and the Marie Keating Foundation have partnered to raise awareness through fundraising initiatives in support of the charity’s community nursing and mobile information units, and to help facilitate more than 100,000 life-saving conversations on spotting the early signs of cancer.

The mobile units, staffed by specialist nurses, offer free and accessible cancer education and support.

The units visit Dalata hotels nationwide throughout the year, and local communities are invited to learn more about early cancer detection and prevention.

Last year, Dalata raised €176,441 for the Marie Keating Foundation through various fundraising activities, adding to the €107,325 raised in 2022, alongside corporate donations amounting to €80,000, bringing the total contribution to €363,000.

Liz Yeates, CEO of the Marie Keating Foundation, said: “We are immensely grateful for the remarkable generosity and dedication shown by Dalata Hotel Group and its employees nationwide.

“The funds raised have significantly enhanced our capacity to deliver essential cancer education and support through our nursing outreach services, enabling us to conduct 63,000 life-saving conversations.

“This partnership is crucial to our mission of saving lives by raising awareness and promoting early detection of cancer across communities in Ireland. Together, we are making a substantial impact in the fight against cancer.”

Dalata’s Drive to Defeat Cancer is part of its wider Dalata Digs Deep fundraising initiative, which is now in its ninth year.

As part of the initiative, Dalata employees voted to support health and wellbeing charities for the period of 2022-2025, partnering with the Marie Keating Foundation in the Republic of Ireland, Leukaemia Care in Britain, and Ambulance NI in Northern Ireland.

The group has raised €1.6m for its charity partners, contributing to a total donation of more than €2m, including matching corporate donations.

“We are thrilled that the effort made by our people across our hotels and at Central office has resulted in such a substantial donation to the Marie Keating Foundation thus far,” said Dermot Crowley, CEO of Dalata.

“Every year, our team across the Group dedicate substantial time and energy to fundraising for our charity partners, and their enthusiasm never ceases to impress me.

“The Marie Keating Foundation is a remarkable organisation, and we are proud to support their vital work nationwide, encouraging life-saving conversations.”

For more information about the Marie Keating Foundation’s mobile information units and to learn about upcoming public visits, visit the Marie Keating Foundation website.

Photo: (l-r) Dermot Crowley and Liz Yeates. (Pic: Supplied)