Glittering PINK partners in Newry with jewellers Jack Murphy who have teamed up with Cancer Focus NI.
Jack Murphy Jewellers in Newry has teamed up with Cancer Focus Northern Ireland to help promote breast cancer awareness month in October with a number of fun activities including a magnificent £260 giveaway.
The month-long partnership kicked off with a special pink launch day on Thursday 24th September when the jewellers unveiled their glittering pink sapphire window display.
The local business is donating two beautiful pieces of jewellery to the value of £260 as part of a competition with Cancer Focus NI.
To enter you need to sign up to the charity’sxa0campaign Support Your Girlsxa0to have a virtual girls’ night in and commit to raising at least £50. The cash will go towards a new support service for younger local women who get breast cancer.
The Support Your Girls campaign, which runs until the end of October (breast cancer awareness month), also highlights signs of the disease and stresses the importance of checking your breasts regularly.
During October, staff at Jack Murphy Jewellers are also planning a ‘wear pink to work’ day on Saturday 3rd October and will encourage their customers to join in – all carefully social distanced of course.
Gemma Murphy, partner and manager, Jack Murphy Jewellers, said: “Cancer is an illness that affects so many people and one in ten women in Northern Ireland get breast cancer, which is a frightening statistic.
“We wanted to join forces with Cancer Focus NI to help raise awareness of this disease and to support all the wonderful work the charity does in our community.”
Rosie Forsythe, Corporate Fundraising Manager, Cancer Focus NI, said: “We are delighted that Jack Murphy Jewellers has come on board with us for our annual breast cancer awareness and fundraising campaign.
“We know that there is a great need for more support among younger women who have been diagnosed.
“With the money raised from girls’ night in events, we plan to provide a unique new six-week service that will give women a chance to speak to experts on a wide range of topics such as infertility and sexual relationships, as well as to meet others in a similar situation.
“The young women we want to help are at a stage in their lives where they may be making big life choices, such as marriage and starting a family, or they may have young children to care for.
“A breast cancer diagnosis can dramatically change all their hopes and plans for the future. It is vital we have the best possible support in place for these women, especially now when there are so many other stresses and difficulties in life because of Covid-19.”
Newry mum of two Joanne Clarke, who had a double mastectomy after she discovered she had the BRCA2 mutant gene, said:xa0“I think a new service for young women affected by this devastating disease is an inspirational idea.
“Young women have their own special set of problems to face and may have young children to look after during their illness.
“It would be excellent for them to have access to experienced professionals who can answer their many questions. It’s also fantastic to have women your own age and in similar circumstances to talk to in confidence. I just wish this support had been available when I was first diagnosed. It would have been invaluable.”
One of the services Cancer Focus NI provides in Newry is specialist bra-fitting for women who’ve had breast surgery.
You can find out more about the Cancer Focus NI girls’ night in at:
xa0www.cancerfocusni.org/girls.
You can also make a donation in-store at Jack Murphy Jewellers throughout October.
