BRA-VO!
Ahead of Action Cancer’s The Bra Walk this Friday, three Northern Ireland women tell Judith Cole why they are proof that making an appointment for a check-up could save your life Our extraspecial reasons for raising money for breast cancerscreening
Belfast will turn pink this Friday as an estimated 1,000 people hit the streets for Action Cancer’s 10k Bra Walk in aid of the charity’s life-saving breast screening service. Now in its fourth year, the fun-filled family event, which sees participants customise their bras with sequins, feathers and, well, anything else they can find, starts at Belfast City Hall at 7pm and winds its way through the streets.
And with just days to go Action Cancer is issuing a last-minute call for anyone who still wants to sign up for the walk, which is sponsored by SuperValu.
By lending support to The Bra Walk, you can not only help raise awareness of the charity’s live-saving service — but also, if you wish, walk in memory of a loved one or to support someone going through breast cancer.
To date, Action Cancer’s flagship event has raised £213,000.
All participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £80 in sponsorship, the amount it costs Action Cancer to provide digital breast screening for one women aged 40-49 and 70-plus.
Every year Action Cancer aims to breast screen 10,000 women at Action Cancer House and on board the Big Bus, supported by SuperValu and its independent retailers.
For every 1,000 women screened, an average of five or six breast cancers are detected — hopefully at an early and treatable stage.
Amy Reynolds, Action Cancer corporate fundraising executive, said: “We are delighted to have SuperValu sponsor The Bra Walk for the fourth year running and would encourage families, friends and work colleagues from across Northern Ireland to get involved in this fun event. SuperValu has been supporting Action Cancer’s Big Bus since it first went on the road almost 12 years ago, enabling the charity to screen an incredible 5,400 women per year throughout Northern Ireland.”
Here, we hear some of the stories of those who have benefited from the service. People can register online at www. actioncancer.org this will be open until 4pm on Thursday. After that people can register at City Hall from 6pm.