Dr. Seamus O’Reilly and his oncology team Cork will fly the flag for Breakthrough Cancer Research

April 5, 2012 - PRLog -- Facing the challenge are Dr. Seamus O’Reilly, distinguished Consultant Medical Oncologist at Cork-Mercy & South Infirmary Victoria University Hospitals and Cork University Hospital, along with his research oncologist colleagues Jodie Battley and Alan O’Shea.  Alan is also an internationally renowned West Cork athlete hoping to complete the marathon in 2:15 in order to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, which is no small feat.

The money raised by the team will go towards a new memorial fund that has been set up in Professor O’ Sullivan’s name. The Professor Gerald O’Sullivan Memorial Fund will finance the immediate creation of two fellowships for personnel at the Cork Cancer Research Centre and contribute to its important and innovative efforts to develop new treatments aimed at treating poor prognosis cancers and to one day find a cure, which had been Professor O’ Sullivan’s life goal.

In Paris, the trio will join 40,000 entrants along the cobbled streets, starting at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe before heading down the Champs-Elysées, towards Place de la Concorde, through the Rue de Rivoli and to the Place de la Bastille.  The difficult return journey will be eased by the greenery of the Bois de Vincennes wood, the views of the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the iconic landmark that is Paris’ Eiffel Tower.

Commenting on the upcoming marathon, Dr. Seamus O’Reilly, Consultant Medical Oncologist, said, ‘I wanted to do something significant in honour of one of my oldest friends and colleagues, the late Prof. Gerry O’Sullivan. I worked with Gerry for years, bringing the pioneering research developed at Cork Cancer Research Centre to patients far and wide.  He has done so much for cancer research in Ireland and abroad that I am now hoping to bring his memory to a worldwide platform, whilst also raising funds for his foundation.”

Breakthrough Cancer Research is the national fundraising brand of Cork Cancer Research Centre. If you wish to support this initiative, you can sponsor Dr. Seamus O’Reilly, Jodie Battley or Alan O’Shea at www.mycharity.ie/event/_marathon_in_memory_of_professor_gerry_osullivan/

For further information contact Breakthrough Cancer Research on www.breakthroughcancerresearch.ie, lo-call 1890 998 998, see their Facebook page.