€250,000 raised in O’Donnell cancer appeal

The Irish Cancer Society has received an estimated €250,000 in donations following last night's appearance on The Late Late Show by cancer sufferer Majella O'Donnell.

Viewers saw Mrs O’Donnell - businesswoman and wife of the singer Daniel - have her head shaved to raise funds to combat the disease. Mrs O’Donnell was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and started a course of chemotherapy treatment last week.

Calling on the public to donate to the Irish Cancer Society, Mrs O’Donnell said: “I would love it if anyone who would like to contribute to this most worthwhile cause, could start donating today”

Mrs O’Donnell received a standing ovation from audience members who watched as she had her head shaved.

The scale of the response was described by the Irish Cancer Society as “phenomenal.”

Gráinne O’Rourke, communications manager with the Irish Cancer Society, said: “We are absolutely thrilled. We are taken aback at the generosity of the Irish people again. The volume of respondents has just been enormous and needless to say we are incredibly grateful to them.”

Ms O’Rourke said donations are still being made and by this afternoon was “around the €250,000 mark”.

“We are so grateful to Majella. It is such a generous thing for her to have done”.

Viewers of the show were invited to make donations through the cancer.ie website but a surge of traffic caused it to crash several times last night. These problems have since been rectified and the site is now fully operational.

The public can donate in three ways. The fundraising phone number is 1850 606060, the website is www.cancer.ie and the text number 50300 which accepts a €4 donation.