Banbridge group seeking help to keep cancer services in the pink

From Friday, October 8 until Sunday, October 9, the Action Cancer Banbridge Community Fundraising Group will be holding events across Banbridge.

The Saturday, for instance, will feature street entertainment, a 10am-1pm coffee morning in the old town hall, where the Big Pink Walk will also get underway at about 11.15am (registration 10.15am).

The Born to be Wild Bikers will be at Bannside Presbyterian Church from 10.30am until 12.30pm, when they will embark on a lap of the town.

More details and news of other events will emerge in weeks to come, but in the meantime organisers are appealing for volunteers to help out betweenthe hours of 10am and 6pm.

“If you are free and willing to help collect for an hour or two it would be greatly appreciated,” a spokesperson said.

Hailed a great success in previous years, the Paint The Town Pink campaign will encourage women aged 40-49 and 70+ to book a free breast screening, either at Action Cancer House or on board the charity’s Big Bus, which travels to 235 locations every year.

The campaign will also encourage women of all ages to be breast aware, as early detection saves lives.

Action Cancer provides a range of lifesaving and support services, costing £3.5 million every year. It receives no government funding and relies entirely on community support to provide services that include breast screening, counselling, complementary therapy – a mixture of aromatherapy, reflexology, and touch therapy - health promotion, MOT health checks for men and women, and the Big Bus. The local spokesperson added: “If you are willing to help on October 7 , 8 or 9 please confirm by contacting Jenna Booth on 028 90 80 3345 or email on jbooth@

actioncancer.org.”