Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Paint The Town Pink

The Mayor is joined by Gareth Kirk, Chief Executive of Action Cancer and Lawrence & Marion Fisher from the Action Cancer Whiteabbey Volunteer Group to promote the Pink the Town Pink campaign.

Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity, Action Cancer, has asked many local businesses in the borough to get involved in their Paint the Town Pink Campaign by decorating shop windows and holding small fundraisers during October. The Council is backing the campaign by lighting their offices in the colour pink which is globally associated with breast cancer.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Thomas Hogg, said: “Only too many families throughout our Borough have been affected by breast cancer, so I’m delighted to add our support to Paint the Town Pink. This high profile campaign will help raise awareness and ultimately save lives and I would encourage other businesses in the Borough to come on board. If adding a little bit of colour to our town can help save even one life, then it’s been worthwhile.”

Action Cancer are the only charity in Northern Ireland to provide Breast Screening to women aged 40 – 49 and 70+, ages not included in the NHS screening programme. They offer 1000 appointments per month and detect an average of 5 cancers. The service is available from Action Cancer House in Belfast and regionally on board the Big Bus. Last year the charity screened a record 10,000 women.

Action Cancer’s Marion Fisher said: “We are so delighted to have the support of Antrim and Newtownabbey Council with Paint The Town Pink. We are very excited and thank everyone in the area who has agreed to take part. We will be tying pink ribbons round trees in support of breast cancer awareness and hope to raise some money for Action Cancer’s breast screening service too”

Each participant taking part in Paint The Town Pink will receive a box of fundraising materials including pink balloons, bunting, collection boxes and ideas on how to raise some money. The campaign is sponsored by Johnsons Coffee who are have provided a packet of their own brew filter coffee for every box.

As part of the Paint The Town Pink Campaign the Action Cancer Big Bus will visit the Whiteabbey Community Centre, Glenville Road on 17th October and Castle Mall Car Park in Antrim on Wednesday 28th October. Appointments are available for breast screenings and health checks and can be booked by phone on 028 9080 3344 or online www.actioncancer.org

If you would like to get involved Paint The Town Pink please contact Marion Fisher on 028 9086 7429.