It really was a case of “Service with a Smile” for 65 Roses Day 2020 as TV chef and cookbook author, Adrian Martin, recently dished up a serving of purple roses for cystic fibrosis patient ambassador Aoife Rafter, ahead of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s annual flagship fundraising appeal taking place on Friday 10th April.

The culinary whiz, who is about to open the doors on his first restaurant in London’s Camden town, arrived with his precious consignment of purple roses on board an ultra-cool, retro-chic AJS Modena at Dublin’s Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

65 Roses Day, which gets its name from the way children often first say the words “cystic fibrosis”, will see volunteers taking to the streets of Ireland on Friday 10th April to sell purple roses to support the delivery of services for people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Purple roses will be on sale for €2 from volunteers, as well as in shopping centres and in more than 90 Dunnes Stores outlets. People can also donate online at www.65RosesDay.ie or text 65ROSES to 50300 for €2 to lend their support [Text costs €2. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland will receive a minimum of €1.80. Service Provider: LIKE CHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.].

No 1 in the World for CF
Ireland has the highest incidence of CF in the world, with almost 1,400 people diagnosed with the disease. Ireland also has some of the more severe strains of CF. Thankfully, due to improvements in health facilities and new therapies treating its underlying cause, people with CF are living longer and healthier lives and the outlook has never been better.

For Chef Adrian Martin, an ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day since 2017, cystic fibrosis is a cause that requires all our attention and support:
“This is my fourth year to be an ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day and it is a cause that is very close to my heart. It’s hard to believe that this small country of ours is number one in the world in terms of the numbers of people with cystic fibrosis for our population, but we are. We may not be able to change the stats today but we can change people’s lives for the better right now. There are so many ways that you can lend your support on 65 Roses Day to ensure that people have access to the best services – by buying a purple rose, taking part in a 65 Roses Challenge, or donating online. I’m actually looking forward to undertaking my own baking challenge at my new restaurant in London to help raise funds. The restaurant will be called ‘Wildflower’, but you never know I might just re-name it ‘Purple Rose’ on 65 Roses Day on Friday 10th April for the day that’s in it!”

Challenge Yourself
For 65 Roses Day, why not undertake a 65 Roses Challenge to support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, wherein you can create your 65-themed event to raise funds while having fun at the same time. This can range from personal challenges such as swimming 65 lengths of a pool or doing 65 gym exercises in 65 minutes, to group challenges such as rounding up friends and family to make 65 cakes for a bake sale or gathering 65 work colleagues for a 65km cycle. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland will also be hosting various 6.5K Remembrance Walks around the country on Saturday April 11. These walks are a very special way to remember and celebrate those loved ones lost to CF. For more information on the 65 Roses Challenges and 6.5K Remembrance Walks, visit www.65RosesDay.ie

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland depends on the public for almost the entirety of its funding and is aiming to raise over €125,000 for its services for people with CF on Friday 10th April – 65 Roses Day. These services include funding CF Units and various CF clinical and research posts in hospitals, as well as providing more than 500 grants each year for people with CF for support such as exercise equipment, counselling sessions, and fertility treatment, as well as financial support for those undergoing a transplant. Funds raised will also go towards funding or part-funding of a significant number of CF research projects, including a major international study on the impact of new CF drugs, as well as helping to raise €1m for the new CF in-patient unit at Beaumont Hospital.

If you’d like to volunteer to help sell purple roses in your community or workplace on Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day, visit www.65RosesDay.ie, email fundraising@cfireland.ie, or telephone LoCall 1890 311 211.