Give it SOCKs !
At the young age of 28 Cheval Riding Club’s Jane Keating was diagnosis with ovarian cancer. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and can go undetected. Therefore, it is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’. Jane was determined to improve the awareness of ovarian cancer and in 2010 along with a group of her family and friends she established Supporting Ovarian Cancer Knowledge (SOCK). SOCK is a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising funds for research and promoting awareness of ovarian cancer.
SOCK relies solely on fundraising and over the last six years have organised a number of fundraising events. However the most successful of these being, the SOCK Team Show Jumping Challenge which is held on the August bank holiday weekend in Cheval RC showgrounds in Oldtown Co. Dublin. Since 2010 this show has raised c€23,000 and has proved to be one of the biggest and most enjoyable Team Showjumping events in the region which attracts over 30 teams who battle to win the Jane Keating Memorial cup. Since the shows inauguration, the Oddsock team captained by Laura Carrick has proved unbeatable. Competition is fierce and an exciting jump off is always guaranteed!
The show this year is on the 31st of July, entries close on the 27th of July and it is a great, fun day out for all the family! Riders are encouraged to bring along their family, friends and dogs to enjoy the barbecue, cake sale, dog show and a monster raffle. All prizes, food and drink on offer have been sponsored. The show is a big team effort and all judges, course builders and helpers have volunteered their time. HorsePlay.ie is delighted to support such a brilliant and worthy event and this year we are sponsoring the best dressed team! Fancy dress is encouraged – the fancier the better!
Just a few stats on SOCK…
Since its foundation SOCK has:
- distributed over 350,000 information leaflets highlighting the symptoms of ovarian cancer via GP’s, hospitals and events;
- lobbied the NCCP and ICGP to issue formal guidance on ovarian cancer to GP’s nationwide, this will be issued by June 2016;
- funded a Research Co-Ordinator nurse in the Waterford Regional Hospital which has enabled the roll out of the ICON8 trail to ovarian cancer patients;
- donated €20,000 to the ovarian cancer research team within Trinity College / St James’s;
- created a one-stop website to provide women with information on ovarian cancer – ovarian-cancer.ie
