Cancer charity refuses to accept money donations from fox hunters
Howard Lake | 14 February 2019 | News
The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) will no longer accept donations from fox hunting clubs and has placed fox hunting alongside tobacco and alcohol in its list of banned donors, according to a report in the Irish Times.
The move comes after complaints from cancer patients and others who objected to ICS receiving money from the annual Abbeyfeale Harriers Hunting festival which is taking place in the north Cork, north Kerry and west Limerick areas.
“Following contact from a number of cancer patients/supporters who were upset about the Abbeyfeale Harriers Annual Hunting Festival, the Society requested that the organisers do not send a donation to the Society that is generated from fox hunt activities,” the ICS said.
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It is understood the objections were on the grounds of perceived cruelty to foxes. At least one of the objectors is a member of an animal rights group, it is believed.
However a spokesman for the harriers festival, which involves hunters on foot with packs of dogs targeting foxes in advance of the lambing season, says the festival is very disappointed with the decision by the ICS.
Jim Murphy from north Cork said the group had been donating to the Irish Cancer Society since 2005 and the ICS had always accepted the donations. Doug McGuinness who is involved with the hunt said people were very upset.
“They have lost loved ones to cancer themselves,” Mr McGuinness said. He also said “thousands” of euros had been donated by harriers over the years to the ICS and says it is a move against countryside pursuits.
The Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae condemned the decision by ICS not to accept money because of objections to hunting animals.
“It’s disappointing to think that people who are terminally ill and where money is needed to give them proper medication and treatment may be deprived now,” Mr Healy-Rae said.
In 2016, 224 complaints were received by ICS, the majority of which (205) related to the Society’s closure of a Financial Aid Scheme, but included complaints with regard to senior salaries and in particular that of the CEO. Off the remaining 19, 11 were opinions expressed by individuals.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.