Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle Gildernew and the Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), Harry Sinclair have given their support to the Action Cancer Big Bus, sponsor SuperValu and their drive to bring cancer services to rural communities.

Attending an event at Loughry College Cookstown recently the Minister and UFU guests were given a tour of the Action Cancer Big Bus mobile screening unit, whose main sponsor is SuperValu.  Action Cancer’s acting Chief Executive Dougie King, explained the drive to target people living in rural areas with the unique cancer screening, support and health promotion services onboard.

Voicing her support, Minister Gildernew MP MLA said, “Action Cancer’s efforts through their Big Bus initiative are a credit to their organisation, improving health and offering a life-saving service to rural communities. I am very impressed by the new state of the art facilities on the bus, which has travelled to almost 450 locations since 2006. I would encourage as many of the rural population who can to take advantage of this opportunity. I would also like to thank the projects main sponsor SuperValu for their support, fundraising and commitment to the charity’s mobile cancer services”

Over 10,000 people have used the Big Bus since it was launched two years ago, including 5,000 women who have been screened for breast cancer.

Musgrave Retail Partners NI Sales Director Nigel Maxwell, second from right, meets the Minister, UFU Deputy President Harry Sinclair, far right, and Action Cancer’s Dougie King at the Big Bus.

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