Nissan Ireland today presented Chris McEvoy of Portlaoise with keys for her new Qashqai 2009, marking the conclusion of Breast Cancer Ireland’s campaign to raise funding for Breast Cancer Research at RCSI.

This nationwide raffle was made possible as a result of the generous donation from Nissan Ireland which has helped raise in excess of €550,000 for Breast Cancer Research.

“This much needed funding will help enormously in our quest to provide personalised patient treatment plans for every patient diagnosed with breast cancer, thereby ensuring that they receive the very best and tailored treatment available to combat their own particular form of breast cancer,” said Professor Arnold Hill, Professor of Surgery, RCSI and Director of Breast Cancer Ireland. “New drugs are being developed that can be targeted to specific parts of a patients cancer tissue. To determine which drugs may be effective for a patient’s particular cancer requires sophisticated analysis and it is hoped this treatment will be made available to all breast cancer patients."

Paul O’Sullivan, Marketing Director, Nissan Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be associated with such an important charity as Breast Cancer Ireland, as we are aware of the need for continued research into breast cancer.”

Breast Cancer Ireland was established under the direction of Professor Arnold Hill to raise much needed funding for breast cancer research in Ireland. Professor Hill is a leading Breast Surgeon and an appointee to the Governments National Cancer Strategy Committee under Professor Tom Keane. At Breast Cancer Ireland RCSI, constant reviews for new and improved ways of treating patients with breast cancer are ongoing and continuous biological research is conducted into breast cancer, its causes and potential treatments.

Aisling Hurley, Director of Development, Royal College of Surgeons, said: “We are thrilled with the response that this nationwide campaign has generated. The reaction of so many has been enlightening and encouraging and we are delighted to be able to positively contribute towards RCSI’s noble purpose in its pursuit to enhance human health through endeavour, innovation and collaboration in education, research and service."