Bernie Walsh

Breast cancer survivor since 2012

Bernie was diagnosed in November 2012.

She underwent two lumpectomy surgeries and eight weeks of chemotherapy, followed by 12 weeks of a second chemotherapy regimen. A severe reaction to this saw her spend over a week in ICU.

The chemotherapy was cancelled and she moved to hormone therapy and seven weeks of radiotherapy.

She finished her treatment in September 2013. In December 2017, she would have been 5 years cancer free.

In May 2017, she had what she thought was a severe back spasm until her oncologist sent her for more extensive X Rays.

She flew to America for a summer holiday and on returning she went for a PET scan & a CT scan. It was when she received the results of these scans which confirmed she had a secondary cancer, Bone cancer.

She had a tumour in her lower vertebrae and had to have parts of her vertebrae removed. Not all the cancer was removed. She also has cancer in her ribs and her treatment is ongoing.

Bernie is a single mother of 2 children and really felt the financial pinch when she started her cancer treatment:

An active member of the Coolmine Music Society, Bernie remembers the moment she felt like she had beat her breast cancer:

Standing on the stage on the opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar, that was when I knew I had made it through breast cancer”.

Cancer changed me but it changed me for the better. I wanted to live because I have two great kids and I want to be around them for a long time. I cherish every day now. I wake up every morning and I am genuinely thankful that I am still here

Liz Yeates

Chief Executive Officer

As an international marketing professional and a graduate from DCU, Liz has worked in a variety of marketing, business development and relationship management roles in the financial services and charity sectors. She worked with ABN AMRO Bank in the Netherlands as International Marketing Manager for 7 years followed by 12 years at AIB as a Senior Bank Manager and Department Head in Dublin’s IFSC.
In 2008, Liz moved to the not-for-profit sector and joined Concern Worldwide where she led the Corporate & Major Donor Fundraising team for a period of 6 years.

As a survivor of both malignant melanoma and bilateral breast cancer, Liz had had her own direct experience of cancer and joined the Marie Keating Foundation in March, 2014 as Director of Public Affairs. She was promoted to CEO in March 2015

Comfort Fund

The Marie Keating Foundation provides financial assistance to people who are currently receiving treatment for any kind of cancer and who find themselves in financial difficulty as a result.

Being diagnosed with cancer can lead to increased medical costs such as consultant fees and medications, additional expenses from hospital travel and parking and increased utility bills due to extra time at home while recovering. This can all happen while a person has reduced earnings because they are too ill to work and family members may have to take time off to help them recover.

Many people find themselves overwhelmed by these costs and this adds to the stress of their cancer diagnosis. The Marie Keating Foundation hopes to lessen that burden.

Each year, the Marie Keating Foundation allocates a specific budget for people who are undergoing cancer treatment but who are financially struggling. The fund accepts applications on behalf of men,
women and children. This fund has been operating successfully since 2004. In 2016 alone, the Marie Keating Foundation’s Comfort Fund helped 529 families through their cancer journey.