Paddy is proudly remembered by Cork's Cancer Research Centre

THE Cork Cancer Research Centre is proudly remembering a Castlehaven man who was one of the organisation’s most active suppporters.

Since 2002, Castlehaven man Paddy Hurley and his wife Angela, of Annie May’s Bar & Restaurant in Skibbereen, have joined volunteers from West Cork to organise the Castletownshend to Skibbereen walk in aid of cancer research. 

Sadly Paddy (79) passed away late last year and so this year the Cork Cancer Research Centre is proudly remembering Paddy’s commitment to cancer research.

 In the past 14 years, the walk raised a staggering €250,000 for cancer research, with over 250 walkers taking part in 2015. While Paddy’s passing has cast a shadow of sadness across the community, he is remembered for his irrepressible character which impressed everyone who was lucky enough to meet him.

 Dr Declan Soden, scientist and manager of the Cork Cancer Research Centre, paid tribute to Paddy saying that everyone at the Centre were very sad to hear about his passing. ‘Not only were himself, Angela and all the Hurley family, dedicated volunteers who organised the walk, but he was a fabulous character who everyone loved to be around,’ he said.

 ‘We knew Paddy as a great family man, a great Castlehaven and Skibbereen man, and a great community man. I met Paddy a number of times over the years. Discussions and planning about the walk would always take place around the family table, where there would be more stories told than planning done,’ he added.

 ‘He is a great loss to everyone who knew him, and the Castlehaven and Skibbereen community and we will always remember him as a decent and kind man.’

 He added that Paddy’s legacy, through his work with the CCRC helped the Centre to provide new treatments for cancer patients and to give hope where previously there was none. ‘Angela and children Siún, Micheál, Miriam and Paudie should be very proud of their father. The communities of West Cork also deserve a huge thanks for their ongoing support which helps us go that extra mile in the fight against cancer,’ Dr Soden added.

 Cork Cancer Research Centre is leading the way with research into cancers with poor prognosis such as ovarian, pancreatic, lung and oesophageal. From their research centre, they have already seen six treatments progress from the laboratory to clinical trial. They work closely with multiple cancer hospitals to ensure their research is responding to the needs of patients with cancers that do not respond to conventional therapies.