For ‘The Young Offenders’ and 2FM star, Daffodil Day is all about providing support
It has been 20 years since Oviawe (25) lost her mother, and a decade since her father died. Despite the profound losses, the Young Offenders star said she “didn’t let the grief consume her”.
“My mother had breast cancer, my father had a tumour, and then complications unfortunately took both of them,” Oviawe told the Irish Independent.
Oviawe said it is an “absolute privilege and honour” to be an ambassador for the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day, adding that the charity means a lot to her.
The broadcaster, who currently co-hosts 2FM Drive with Demi and Mikey, has been vocal about the heartbreak of loss, saying she wants to be a role model for others.
However, the Cork woman said she does not like to think of herself as someone in the public eye, as she describes herself as “just a person who got lucky and is in a situation when she can talk about these things”.
“I want to be a role model. I want to show that it’s not always going to be perfect. There are things that people go through and you should be vocal about all those kind of things.
Daffodil Day ambassador Demi Isaac. Photo: Frank McGrath
“I never thought I would be an ambassador for Daffodil Day. I never thought that I would be able to talk about the griefs that I went through in my childhood from losing both my parents.
“But I didn’t let the grief consume me. Everyone deals with things differently. I was very fortunate to have quite a strong support system.”
Oviawe, who was born in Nigeria and grew up in Mallow, Co Cork, credited the support from her family and community for making the biggest difference to her when she was young.
“My stepmum, my uncle, my nana, my school, my family, my best friends – without them, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing,” she said.
“They showed me that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. So if I can relay that information to whoever is reading or listening to me and showing them that it is dark and gloomy right now, but there will be a bright sunny day eventually, then that’s exactly what I want.
“I was just a kid going through a lot and the teachers in school were always there for me. My community is all very much in tune with each other.
“We’re one big happy dysfunctional family, but we’re there for each other.”
Oviawe’s favourite thing is to put a smile on someone else’s face
However, Oviawe said every family’s situation is “different” and people cope with diagnosis and loss “completely differently”.
“For my family, we were just very fortunate that my dad didn’t go into a hospice. He wanted to stay at home, so we were together to the very end,” she said.
“And together, it brought us a lot closer. And it’s hard now, but from my personal standpoint, it was that my dad was in so much discomfort and pain, and now he’s at ease and that’s the way we cope with it.”
Before joining 2FM, Oviawe starred in RTÉ and BBC’s sitcom Young Offenders and Netflix’s School for Good and Evil.
With these roles, she said she “knows she’s making someone’s day”, adding that her favourite thing is to put a smile on someone else’s face.
“I think that kind of gets you through the darkness that can sometimes be closing in on you,” Oviawe said.
“I’ve always been an entertainer at heart, so if I can do that for another person, then I’ve done my job and I’m delighted with it.”
On Daffodil Day, Oviawe said she is an “avid” believer in the Irish Cancer Society and in everything that they do.
“They provide services for cancer patients as well as their families, which is very important,” she said.
The message on Daffodil Day is that support is always there for patients and their families. Photo: Getty
“Daffodil Day is a reminder that we are coming together as a community to help those who really need it. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, doesn’t matter how much you give – as long as you’re giving something, that’s all that matters.
“I hope this won’t be the last time that I’m an ambassador for Daffodil Day. I feel like I’m making a difference, and I’m being very vocal and very active about it.”
Oviawe appealed to people to get themselves checked out and to go to their doctor if they “feel like something is off”.
“I had a scare myself. My mum was around my age when she had her diagnosis, maybe a couple years older. I’m very much in tune with my body and if something feels abnormal, I’m always checking myself,” she said.
“I’m always doing the breast check that they tell you to do at home, just because I’d rather catch it now than catch it 10 years from now.
“On Daffodil Day, the Irish Cancer Society needs our support to continue to provide cancer patients and their families with free services.”