Staff and customers of Gordons Chemists branches across Northern Ireland have raised £18,500 for Action Cancer this year through initiatives ranging from raffles and fancy dress to bake sales and hiking up Slieve Donard.
Much of the fundraising took place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and the money raised will fund 154 breast screenings.
Action Cancer is the only charity which provides free breast screening to women aged 40-49 and over 70, who fall outside the NHS screening age range of 50-70.
Although the fundraising took place in slightly different circumstances due to Covid-19 restrictions, the stores encouraged their staff and customers to safely raise funds for the charity’s vital services.
The partnership between the chemist and Action Cancer is now in its 15th year.
Melanie Talbot, marketing manager at Gordons Chemists, said: “Our staff work tirelessly throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month to collect donations and they are passionate about making sure that our customers know of the potentially life-saving services which Action Cancer can offer them.
“Our customers have played a massive part by donating so generously.
“We’ve seen a significant number of our customers have a cancer detected because of a screening made available to them by Action Cancer, and because a member of our staff encouraged them to make an appointment.
“Supporting Action Cancer is just one of the ways that we try to give something back to the communities we work in.”
Mark Jones, corporate fundraising executive at Action Cancer, thanked staff and customers of Gordons Chemists for their support.
Although screenings are free to women, each costs Action Cancer £120.
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