Cancer Focus Says Thank You To Downpatrick

Big Bucket Collection raises £10k for Cancer Focus NI.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland says a huge thank you to the people of Downpatrick who volunteered and donated to its BIG Bucket Collection.

The collection was held in 20 towns and cities across Northern Ireland on Saturday June 29 and raised an amazing £10k.

Cancer Focus NI, which is celebrating its 50th year, thanks all those who donated so generously and to everyone who volunteered for the street collections.

Cancer Focus NI fundraisers Louise Richardson and Alyson Kerr say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and volunteered for the charity’s BIG Bucket Collection which was held in 20 towns across Northern Ireland and raised a magnificent £10k for local cancer patients and their families.

All the money the charity raises stays in Northern Ireland to help local cancer patients and their families – and that means people in your community.

Rosie Forsythe, community fundraising manager for Cancer Focus NI, said: “We are delighted with the amount raised – we can’t thank you enough.

“All the money donated stays in Northern Ireland and will be used to provide vital lifeline services for local people at one of the toughest times of their lives. We have family support for children and young people when a mum or dad has cancer. One of our most used services is counselling for people who need support during and after their treatment.

“We have a specialist bra-fitting service for women who have had breast cancer, and art therapy, a driving service and the Sing for Life choir for people affected by cancer.”

The charity has teams that go to schools and colleges all over Northern Ireland with their cancer prevention work, and they bring health information and stop smoking services to community venues and workplaces. Cancer Focus NI also funds pioneering new research at Queen’s University Belfast and advocates for better health policies for the future.

Where your money goes:

£15 will pay for someone affected by cancer to attend a creative therapy session.

£25 will pay for a counselling session for a cancer patient.

£100 will pay for six weeks support for a bereaved child.

If you have any worries about cancer, call the charity’s free support and information NurseLine on 0800 873 3339 and speak to a specialist cancer nurse, or you email: Nurseline@cancerfocusni.org