Former Mayor Alderman Amanda Grehan was honoured to present a cheque for the remarkable sum of £140,002.25 to Action Cancer, the total amount raised during her tenure as the 25/26 Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.
As Mayor, Alderman Grehan championed the importance of early detection and encouraged women across Lisburn and Castlereagh to prioritise their breast health.
Her commitment was highlighted particularly strongly throughout October when Lisburn City Centre turned pink as part of the ‘Paint the Town Pink’ initiative delivered in partnership with local businesses and community organisations. The initiative helped shine a spotlight on Action Cancer’s life-saving breast screening service and encouraged eligible women aged 40-49 and 70 plus (outside of NHS screening age range) to book an appointment.
The final fundraising total reflects the generosity and involvement of the local community. Residents, families and volunteers supported a wide variety of events from bucket collections to football tournaments to zumbathons, throughout the year, while businesses and city centre traders played a central role in raising awareness and promoting early detection.
Alderman Grehan said: “Supporting Action Cancer during my year as Mayor was a privilege. The charity provides vital services that make a real difference to families across Northern Ireland, and what our community achieved together was truly remarkable.
"The generosity shown by residents, businesses and partner organisations has been inspiring and I want to thank everyone who donated or supported the fundraising efforts.
“Every contribution helped us reach this remarkable total and will support early detection breast screening services that save lives.”
Lucy McCusker, Senior Fundraising Manager at Action Cancer, added: “We are deeply grateful to Alderman Grehan for her commitment and energy throughout her Mayoral year.
“The support shown by residents, businesses and organisations across Lisburn and Castlereagh has been exceptional.
“Raising over £140,000 is an extraordinary achievement and will directly support the delivery of our life saving early detection services.”
The incredible amount raised will help Action Cancer continue its vital work, supporting breast cancer screening by supporting bringing the Big Bus mobile detection unit to local communities and raising awareness for early diagnosis, ensuring more families can benefit from life-saving services.