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PINK LINK SUCCESS!
By Derval Keenan, 2/3/2005 4:41:04 PM
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The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) is delighted to announce that Northern Ireland?s first ever PINK LINK, supported by Gordons Chemists, raised a staggering £30,000 for the charity.
To kick-start this years Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in October, the UCF invited all women and supporters from across NI to visit their local Gordons Chemists on Friday 8th October at 1.15pm to join the PINK LINK, sign the ribbon of hope and give a donation to the campaign to fund the charity?s vital services and prevention campaigns.
The event was a tremendous success, with thousands of supporters turning out, signing the ?Ribbon of Hope? and leaving dedications for family members going through breast cancer, or in some cases for those who had died.
Arlene Spiers, Chief Executive, UCF said, ?We are delighted that Gordons Chemists supported this year?s pink ribbon campaign and helped us to run Northern Ireland?s first ever PINK LINK! Our campaign message this year was one of hope ? that there is life after cancer and the good news is that the earlier breast cancer is discovered, the better the chances are of successful treatment and full recovery. Research funded by UCF in Northern Ireland continues to shed light on this complex disease, its causes and treatment, and advances are being made.
?The support of Gordons Chemists has allowed us to take our message into the hearts of communities across Northern Ireland. We are very grateful to Gordons management ? and staff, for their enthusiasm and commitment to this campaign?.
Neil Gordon, co-founder of Gordons Chemists in Northern Ireland is delighted at the win-win partnership with UCF. Neil said, ?We are Northern Ireland?s fastest growing pharmacy & health and beauty chain ? catering for families right across Northern Ireland. Our entire business is built around our customers and we employ over 500 staff province wide.
?We were delighted to partner UCF in this year?s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. I think the real benefit has been for us to spread our wings on behalf of the UCF across almost every community in Northern Ireland. This has brought us into contact with tens of thousands of cancer patients and survivors who supported us through the PINK LINK at our 40 store locations.
?We look forward to supporting this initiative again and hope that this campaign, which has helped us foster valuable social links, will form a major part of our ongoing community relations programmes.?
Arlene Spiers, UCF continued, ??There are currently around 39,000 people living with cancer in Northern Ireland and of those 5,752 are women with breast cancer. Additionally around 900 local women are newly diagnosed every year.
?Although these numbers increase slightly every year, the good news is that more and more women are surviving the disease. However, both early detection and prompt treatment are key elements in a good outcome for any woman diagnosed with breast cancer, and after seven years of Pink Ribbon, raising public awareness of all the issues around breast cancer is still of vital importance.?
If you would like to find out more about the services offered by UCF please call 028 9049 2007 or log onto ulstercancer.org. If you have any concerns about cancer or would like information, counselling or just to talk about the disease, please contact UCF?s confidential Freefone Helpline number on 0800 783 33 39.
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For further information please contact Derval Keenan PR Officer, UCF on 028 9049 2007 / 07812 525531 or dervalkeenan@ulstercancer.org
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