Oesophageal Cancer Fund CLG

The Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) is an Irish charity dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for the roughly 500 families affected by oesophageal cancer each year. By championing early detection, funding cutting-edge research and providing practical support, OCF aims to raise the five-year survival rate and ease the long-term impact of treatment.

Key initiatives include the national Lollipop Day campaign, which uses a simple lollipop to spark conversation about symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, persistent heartburn and unexplained weight loss. OCF also organises a variety of community-driven fundraisers-from tractor runs and gala dinners to extreme obstacle courses-while offering online fundraising tools and corporate partnership opportunities. A substantial portion of its budget is invested in research, notably the National Barrett's Registry and a major international randomised trial on neoadjuvant therapy, as well as patient-support programmes that deliver information, peer stories and specialist advice.

Based in Dublin and operating across the Republic and Northern Ireland, OCF is triple-locked by the Charities Institute of Ireland, ensuring transparent governance and financial stewardship while relying entirely on public generosity to fuel its life-saving mission.