Mr Joe Johnston, Patron of Mayo Cancer Support Association, gave the following address at the launch of the New Treatment and Therapy Centre at Rock Rose House, which were officially opened by an Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny on 5th March 2012.

The Mayo Cancer Support Rock Rose House Committee at the launch of the new Threatment and Therapy Centre at Rock Rose House with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. Photo: Michael Donnelly.

"Taoiseach, Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of Mayo Cancer Support Association may I thank you all for coming here to-day to support the launch of the new therapy centre/treatment rooms.

The three Horsemen of Death in modern day society are (1) Cardiovascular Disease (2) Road Traffic Accidents and (3) Cancer. All have one common thread - lifestyle. What are we as a society doing about them?
(a) Education
(b) Recognition of the causative agents
(c) Implementation of back up services

This latter is very important and involves not only central based support but more importantly community based.

In County Mayo, Rock Rose House has procedures in place and is opening another to-day to care for those members of our community who bear an illness with great courage and look to a future with great calmness and hope for a cure. In more and more instances prompt chemotherapeutic and surgical care achieves this cure. Quality of life is an all important aspect in the management of cancer and community based organisations who offer back up services are essential. Support is the all important word. Nobody should be made to feel isolated and a County based support group like Mayo Cancer Support Association has a very important part to play in these services. If we as a County do not look after our own, who will. By all means have Town, Parish and Regional rivelries but these should be funnelled into a support service which is County and Community orientated. The ill and afflicted are our people and relations.

The word cancer has a Big C but so does care, courage, challenge, courtesy, community, county, counselling, collection. All of the big C's should bring us together to support and help our people in their challenge and drive for life.

Remember when the Great Collector comes to call and write against your name He marks not what we have lost or won but how we have played the game."