Asda Cookstown colleague visits breast screening unit to highlight vital service
As the retailer marks 30 years of its Tickled Pink campaign, which supports charities Breast Cancer Now and Coppafeel!, Asda Cookstown Community Champion Janice travelled to Magherafelt Hospital, where the HSC screening unit is currently based.
She said: “I was delighted to go along and witness the incredible work being done to support early detection in a crucial strand of community health care.”
During her visit, Janice met Suzy Moore, Assistant Practitioner from Antrim Area Hospital Breast Screening Team, and Elizabeth Hanna, a radiographer at Antrim Area Hospital Breast Imaging Unit.
The meeting followed a recent visit from Suzy to Asda Cookstown, where she met colleagues and members of the public, explaining the work of Northern Ireland’s breast screening service.
Suzy said: “Breast screening plays a vital role in saving lives by detecting breast cancer at an early stage, often before symptoms develop, when treatment is most effective.
“In Northern Ireland, women aged 50 to 70 who are registered with a GP are routinely invited for breast screening every three years. Although women over 70 are no longer automatically invited, they remain eligible and we would encourage them to contact their local breast screening unit to make an appointment.
“We strongly urge all eligible women to take up their screening invitation, as early detection can make a significant difference to outcomes.”
Suzy also thanked Asda Community Champions like Janice for their support, with future visits planned to stores elsewhere in Northern Ireland as the mobile screening unit changes sites.
She said: “Asda Community Champions have been extremely supportive and encouraging in welcoming us to their stores and allowing us to deliver the Breast Screening and breast awareness message to their customers.
“We have nothing but praise for Asda's enthusiastic and engaging staff, they really do make a difference.”
Janice added: “Thank you to Suzy and Elizabeth for all the information you share with the public, and the vital role you play in supporting early detection and saving lives.”
To date, Asda Tickled Pink has raised £100 million, enabling Breast Cancer Now to drive more than 500 vital discoveries and supporting CoppaFeel! in its educational and awareness projects encouraging and empowering regular chest checking among 18 to 24-year-olds.
Breast screening is carried out at both static and mobile units across Northern Ireland. For more information visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/breast-screening-overview.