While children with cancer in Ireland are looked after by ‘excellent staff', a strain on resources in the health service in recent years has ‘had an impact', the Childhood Cancer Foundation (CCF) has said.

Over 200 children are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland every year - that is around four families per week being given this devastating and life-changing news.

The CCF works to raise funds for, and awareness of, this disease and is marking its first anniversary on International Childhood Cancer Day, which takes place next Sunday (February 15).

On that day, gold ribbons, which are the international symbol of childhood cancer, will be on sale nationwide and people are urged to wear them to help raise awareness.

"We are joining with groups in Ireland and across the world to raise awareness of the issues surrounding childhood cancer. These include the importance of early diagnosis, the difficulties - physical and emotional - that children face throughout treatment, and the long-term side effects of the harsh treatment
regiments," explained Mary Claire Rennick of the CCF.

She said that by raising awareness, the foundation hopes to improve conditions for those children affected and their families.

"While Ireland has excellent staff to care for our children, the strain on resources in the health service in the last five years has also had an impact on children affected by cancer," Ms Rennick insisted.

However, she pointed out that Irish people have been very generous in their support, to the extent that the foundation has committed to funding a play specialist in the day ward in Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin (OLCHC).

"This will ensure that children waiting for treatment, receiving chemotherapy or blood transfusions, or who are in for day procedures, will have the opportunity for play services to make their time in hospital less scary.

"We are delighted to provide this funding. As parents of children affected by cancer and treated on St John's ward, we are all aware of the need for such services. We will continue to work with the hospital to provide other services that will benefit children's emotional wellbeing," Ms Rennick said.

Gold ribbons will be on sale for €3 in a number of shopping centres nationwide on February 15. For more information on the CCF, including how to make a donation, click here