Action Cancer launches Golden Anniversary fundraising with ‘The Great Big Bucket Collection’

The fundraising event will take place concurrently in Carrickfergus, Ballyclare, Lurgan, Cookstown, Coleraine, Newtownards, Belfast, Lisburn and Bangor from 10am and Action Cancer is appealing to individuals, families, friends or work colleagues from the area to volunteer for a couple of hours and raise much needed funds for the charity’s range of prevention, detection and support services.

Elaine Cahill, a long-term supporter of Action Cancer and also a breast cancer survivor, said: “I have supported and fundraised for Action Cancer since 2014 because I know how valuable the charity is to the people of Northern Ireland.

"I have seen first-hand the life-saving work that is carried out by Action Cancer through its breast screening, counselling, complementary therapies and other therapeutic services.

"The charity operates in both urban and rural areas and provide services for people diagnosed with cancer as well as people supporting a loved one on a cancer journey. These vital support services only exist because of public fundraising and so I appeal to everyone to spare a couple of hours and get behind Action Cancer’s Great Big Bucket Collection on February 4.

"Your time will make a positive difference to the lives of local people in the area and could quite possibly save a life.”

Action Cancer has been at the heart of cancer prevention, detection and support for people in Northern Ireland for 50 years.

The services that Action Cancer provide are unique and free to the user but come at a cost to the charity of £4 million every year.

These services include an early detection breast screening clinic, therapeutic services for people living with a cancer diagnosis as well as people supporting a loved one with a diagnosis.

Services can be accessed from Action Cancer House in Belfast or from 13 regional locations and on board the Big Bus, supported by SuperValu and Centra which travels to over 200 locations each year.

Action Cancer community group executive Mark Irwin-Watson said: “We do not receive any regular funding from government and so rely heavily on fundraising from the general public and local businesses to deliver our life-saving services. “That is why events like ‘The Great Big Bucket Collection’ are so vital to the work we do.”

For those who are unable to volunteer on the day Action Cancer is asking shops and businesses to place a bucket or collection tin in their venue on the week leading up to the collection.

The charity is also accepting online donations at www.justgiving.com/campaign/greatbigbucketcollection. To volunteer or help co-ordinate The Great Big Bucket Collection contact Mark Irwin-Watson on 028 9080 3344 or email [email protected]. To book an appointment with Action Cancer visit www.actioncancer.org or call 028 9080 3344.

​