Waterford urged to get behind Run & Walk for Solas this Sunday
Adam Moloney is taking part in this weekend's Run and Walk for Solas.
Hundreds of people are set to take to the streets of Waterford city and Dungarvan this Sunday, October 11, for the annual Run & Walk for Solas, raising vital funds for local cancer support services.
The fundraiser supports the work of Solas Cancer Support Centre, which provides services and support to people affected by cancer and their families.
Among those preparing to take part this year is Waterford man Adam Moloney, who will complete the Run and Walk for the first time after experiencing first-hand the support provided by Solas.
For Adam, every person who signs up represents much more than another name on the starting line.
“You might not know our names, but every step you take is carrying us,” he said. “You are keeping the lights on in a place that has brought so many of us back to life.”
Adam was just 30 years old when his life changed in September 2023 following a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that develops in muscle tissue.
Initially, he tried to carry on as normal.
“When I first got the news, I did what a lot of us men do. I put on a front,” Adam said.
While the physical impact of treatment affected his confidence, he said some of the hardest changes were those others could not see.
Eventually making the decision to reach out proved transformational.
“Since reaching out to Solas, my whole approach to life while fighting this battle has completely changed,” Adam said.
He began counselling, something he admits he had initially been unsure about, and also availed of treatments including reflexology.
Solas also runs a monthly Men’s Hub activity outside the centre for men who have received a cancer diagnosis, as well as those who have been bereaved.
“Honestly, they are the only days where I actually switch off from being sick, just from being with a great bunch of lads,” he said.
His experience has also left him with one regret.
“My only regret is that I didn’t reach out to Solas in the earlier days,” Adam said.
He is now encouraging others who may be unsure about seeking support to take the step he once hesitated to take.
“If anyone out there is unsure about what Solas is, I can’t advise you enough to come up, meet the team, grab a coffee or tea and a chat,” he said.
As runners and walkers prepare for Sunday’s event, Adam hopes his story can provide a reminder of the people behind the fundraising total.
For Adam, taking part for the first time will also be an opportunity to give something back to a centre he credits with changing his experience of living with cancer.
“You might not know our names, but every step you take is carrying us,” he said.
“And for people like me, that support means more than you could ever know.”
