Splash in support of Cuan
LISTENING EAR ‘The kettle is virtual now’ says survivor and now volunteer
Miriam Goggins still “remembers clearly” the day she was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in October 2016.
Originally from Dublin, but living in Cavan for the past 15 years, the 44-year-old found herself slowing walking down the steps of the Breast Clinic at Eccles Street. Her mind was spinning but to the fore was an ardent acknowledgement that she would “just get on with it, spare my parents the worry and play it down as best as I could for them. I would meet it head on and survive this.”
Miriam did just that and survived surgeries and treatment and, last Saturday, joined almost two dozen members of the Annagh Dippers to take part in a charity splash at the local lake near Butlersbridge.
The event was organised both to raise funds and awareness of Cuan in Cavan Town, where Miriam is now an administrator, helping others navigate the impact and challenges of cancer diagnosis and survival.
It was after her treatment that Miriam found Cuan, which operates from a premises at 2 Keadue Lane.
Emotionally and physically “drained”, Miriam explains: “I had survived cancer but it had left me thoroughly spent. I needed something, a different kind of help now.”
Cuan social support and wellness group offers free and confidential counselling for those with a cancer diagnosis and also their family members and, prior to Covid restrictions, also provided a suite of free complementary therapies.
There is even space for people to call by for a simple cup of tea and a chat, although like some other services, it was resigned to a virtual chatroom during lockdown.
Cuan is also affiliated with the Irish Cancer Society and runs a variety of approved programmes, from the ‘Strides for Life’ walking programme to ‘Cancer- Thriving and Surviving’ and more.
While the centre is currently closed, Cuan operates in conjunction with Cavan-Monaghan ETB, online arts and crafts, classes on how to use tech, as well as yoga and healthy living classes.
Miriam herself started with the ‘Strides for Life” programme, admitting that, beforehand, cancer had left her “very low in confidence in myself and quite reclusive”.
Wanting to be part of a “wonderful place” that offered such encouragement and support to others, like Miriam, on a similar journey, she began volunteering. “Cuan is a place where you know you are among people who care, who get it because they have either been through cancer personally or they have a family member who has been through it. I volunteered at Cuan because, through helping others, I believed that I was helping myself too.”
She adds: “I always felt boosted and happier leaving Cuan than when I went in. A cup of tea and a chat in the centre was all it took for me most days.”
Saturday’s splash was the culmination of those years of support. Several members of the Annagh Dippers also volunteer their time to Cuan, so Miriam entered the chilly morning waters not just with colleagues, but friends too.
“We call it a centre but this makes it sound cold, which it most definitely is not,” regards Miriam. “It’s is a lovely little house with volunteers sitting inside waiting to knock on the kettle and help in any way they can. The kettle is virtual now of course, but we are still here providing the help and support albeit virtual or over the phone.”
Like many charities, Cuan’s scope for fundraising has been severely curtailed as a result of Covid, which is why the weekend swim was so welcome.
Cuan is also looking for more volunteers to assist in delivering their services.
Looking back Miriam considers: “I’ve come a long way from the girl I was in 2017 after I finished treatment. I am even stronger and more confident facing the future now than I was before my cancer diagnosis all thanks to the care, support and friendship of a few volunteers in a small cancer support centre in Cavan. I feel very lucky to have found Cuan.”
For anyone with questions or queries about Cuan and its services, contact the centre at 049-8511021 or 086-4556632 or cuan@cavan.ie