SuperValu & Centra celebrate first birthday of the Action Cancer Big Bus
Action Cancer, Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity, will celebrate the first birthday of the new Big Bus this Sunday, 1st May.
To kick off the celebrations, Musgrave NI, the charity’s long-term partner will launch a week-long fundraising initiative through its SuperValu and Centra stores from Friday 29th April.
In a ‘May Day’ call for help to keep the wheels of the Big Bus turning, SuperValu and Centra store staff will have buckets at the ready to raise funds for this life-saving service which last year delivered 875 health checks to men and women aged 16+ and 1,950 breast screenings to women aged 40-49 and over 70 years – outside of NHS screening age.
Throughout this year, Musgrave NI, through SuperValu and Centra stores, and its head office colleagues, will aim to generate £175,000 in fundraising to ensure the Big Bus can continue to visit communities across Northern Ireland and provide its free life-saving services. With Covid restrictions lifted, the Big Bus aims to travel to 200 locations and deliver 2,000 health checks and 5,000 breast screenings during 2022.
Desi Derby, Director of Marketing for SuperValu and Centra said: “We have a long-standing partnership with Action Cancer and our fantastic retailers, customers and colleagues have raised over £3.5 million to date. To be able to support the Big Bus and help keep it on the road, delivering life-saving services to communities across Northern Ireland, is something of which we are very proud. If you are shopping in one of our SuperValu or Centra stores this weekend, please consider supporting us in our fundraising efforts.”
Gareth Kirk, Chief Executive of Action Cancer added: “We are delighted to be celebrating the first birthday of our new Big Bus, which has been serving people across Northern Ireland over the last 12 months. Our breast screening service, detects approximately six cancers in every 1,000 women screened and thanks to the ongoing support of the staff and customers of Musgrave NI, SuperValu and Centra, we will continue to make a real difference to the lives of people across N. Ireland.”
The Big Bus visits SuperValu and Centra stores throughout Northern Ireland and next week will be at SuperValu Aughnacloy on 4th May and Centra Ballinderry on 5th May, ensuring that people across the country can access Action Cancer’s vital services.
Bridie Treanor, mother of six and granny to four grandchildren, from Rosslea County Fermanagh had her breast cancer detected in May 2019 at the age of 49 when SuperValu hosted the Big Bus at their Newtownbutler store.
Bridie said: “I’m so thankful to Action Cancer’s Big Bus for saving my life. I never would have travelled all the way up to Belfast to attend a routine screening. I’m so grateful that women like me can access this vital service on their doorsteps.”
For information about upcoming Big Bus visits throughout NI and to book an appointment contact 028 9080 3344 or visit the Action Cancer website at appointments.actioncancer.org
The new Big Bus was brought to life thanks to the generous support from Principal Funder Walk the Walk, a UK breast cancer charity who provided £360,000 in funding and £50,000 each from The Garfield Weston Foundation, Ulster Garden Villages and The McClay Foundation.
Caption: Desi Derby, Director of Marketing for SuperValu and Centra, joins Action Cancer Ambassador Gloria Hunniford OBE at the launch of Action Cancer’s Big Bus.
