Leading food convenience retailers SuperValu and Centra are once again launching their sponsor a mammogram campaign to support their long-term charity partner Action Cancer.
Between Monday 9 and Sunday 15 October SuperValu and Centra stores across Northern Ireland will be collecting donations at their tills and in collection buckets to raise a minimum of £120 which how much it costs Action Cancer to provide one mammogram to women in Northern Ireland.
Action Cancer Ambassador Clair Waterson from Derrylin, has availed of the breast screening service twice when Action Cancer’s Big Bus visited her area. While the results from her first appointment were normal, it was following her second early detection screening two years later, that she received a breast cancer diagnosis in her left breast and went on to have a mastectomy. Clair is now cancer free.
Speaking about the service, Clair Waterson said: “I’m so thankful to Action Cancer’s Big Bus. Travelling to Belfast for routine screening can be difficult for many people but Action Cancer ensure their services are made accessible to everyone across Northern Ireland. Sponsor a Mammogram is a fantastic initiative to support, and it could save the life of someone in your community.”
Desi Derby, Director of Marketing for SuperValu and Centra, added: “We’ve been supporting Action Cancer since 2001 and are very proud of our retailers, colleagues and customers who together have raised an incredible £3.7million to date. This initiative helps to provide a vital screening service to women across and Northern Ireland and we would encourage anyone visiting our stores to support in any way they can to help save the life of a mum, granny, aunt or wife.”
Corporate Fundraising Manager for Action Cancer, Lucy McCusker, added: “Last year the Big Bus screened 1,533 women outside of NHS screening age on the Big Bus. Of the 234 referrals made, 25 women have received a breast cancer diagnosis and are now undergoing treatment. Those who received normal results, also received reassurance.
“We are delighted SuperValu and Centra are running this campaign again. With their support we can continue to provide these life-saving screenings free of charge. Every penny raised could help save the life of a woman close to you.”
Action Cancer offers screening to women aged 40-49 and 70+ (outside of NHs screening age range) with no signs or symptoms or cause of concern.
For more information visit: www.actioncancer.org