Action Cancer’s Big Bus mobile unit visited Downpatrick today (Tuesday 3 June), as part of its ongoing programme of visits around Northern Ireland.
The unit, which is the first of its kind in Europe, was located at the SuperValu store.
The £1.5 million mobile clinic, whose main sponsor is retail group SuperValu and its independent retailers, was launched in 2006 to help Action Cancer save lives and support people. The 18-metre-long articulated vehicle with expanding side pods, houses cancer prevention and early detection services and staff on the unit also provide information about support services.
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At the arrival of the Big Bus at the SuperValu in Ballymote, Downpatrick, were Action Cancer staff Sarah McCullough, Liz Taylor, Cathy Biggarstaff Nikki Sturgeon and Amy Thompson with local SuperValu store manager Paul McMullan.[/caption]
Services provided on the Big Bus, which is fully accessible include digital breast screening for women aged between 40 and 49 and over 70, health promotion and MOT health checks for men and women. A full body composition analysis using the latest technology provides clients with information on their height, weight, body mass index and more, and also offers health awareness and weight loss guidance.
Big Bus staff can provide information on complementary therapies and other cancer support services such as counselling, a Listening Ear Service, and support groups, which are available for cancer patients, their carers and families at the charity’s headquarters in Belfast and at other locations.
The Big Bus targets areas in Northern Ireland where cancer risk is greatest and where uptake of screening services is low. Individuals wishing to make an appointment for a service and groups and companies wishing to make a booking for the Big Bus to visit their location should telephone Action Cancer on 028 9080 3344. Alternatively, you can book online by going to:
and following the ‘online booking’ link on the home page.
*  SuperValu has sponsored the Big Bus since 2001, providing more than £1 million of funding , including £120,000 towards the annual running costs
* Â SuperValu stores throughout Northern Ireland host Big Bus visits and staff and customers raise funds to keep the service on the road.
* Â Every year the SuperValu Big Bus visits 200 communities providing breast screenings for more than 4,500 women and health checks and advice for over 2,600 people.
* Â The Big Bus targets areas in Northern Ireland where cancer risk is greatest and where uptake of screening services is low.
* Â Each year the Big Bus does around 8500 mammograms and 1% prove to be positive. Around 80 women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer.
SuperValu is part of Musgrave Retail Partners NI (MRPNI) which supports over 250 independent retail stores in Northern Ireland, including Centra and Mace, with a combined turnover in excess of £600 million. MRPNI is part of the Musgrave Group, the leading partner to more than 3,500 entrepreneurial retailers and food service professionals in the UK, Ireland and Spain.
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