Countdown to Action Cancer Cares Shops’ Challenge

by Ulster Life • August 10, 2015 • Business, Events • Comments (0) • 2345

Leading local cancer charity, Action Cancer will be handing over the reins of 15 of its shops to 14 different businesses from across Northern Ireland on Thursday 17^th September as part of Business in the Community’s Cares Shops’ Challenge.

This marks the third year of the Cares Shops’ Challenge partnership with Action Cancer, which to date has raised £160,000 for the charity’s cancer protection, detection and support services.

The volunteers from the various businesses will be using their entrepreneurial skills, business acumen and years of collective experience to increase donations, footfall and sales at the various shops on the day of the challenge.

The companies have already begun their fundraising and are preparing for takeover day. The competing businesses taking part this year are; Bangor Academy, Boots, BT, Cornmarket Insurance, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Fujitsu, Funeral Services NI, Genesis Crafty, GE Global, Marks and Spencer, MJM, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, People 1^st and SPAR.

Peter Lynch, Action Cancer’s Retail Operations Manager commented; “The Cares Shops’ Challenge provides a unique opportunity for Action Cancer Retail to benefit from an ‘Apprentice Style’ challenge. Every penny raised during the challenge stays within Northern Ireland to provide free services to local people including; breast screening to women aged 40-49 and 70 plus & complementary therapies and counselling to anyone impacted by cancer.”

On Friday 9^th October, the teams will present their activities to three judges; Gareth Kirk (Action Cancer CE), Inez Fowler (Action Cancer Ambassador) and Elaine Birchall (SHS Group CE) as part of the Boardroom Showdown at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Belfast. All-Tex Recyclers has generously provided £10,000 in sponsorship for the event.

Paula McAuley, General Manager of All-Tex Recyclers Ltd said, “We are delighted to be able to support such a wonderful local charity that does so much to support local people affected by cancer. We look forward to continuing our long standing partnership with Action Cancer into the future.”

Hilary Hanberry, Volunteering Manager at Business in the Community added, “This challenge just gets better year on year. The companies that get involved are committed to doing business responsibly. This employer supported volunteering challenge offers multiple benefits – enabling employees to take on and project manage the challenge, use their skills and wits to fundraise, get creative in organising and promoting ‘their’ shop while raising awareness of early cancer detection amongst their colleagues. We’re already looking for competitors for 2016, so if your businesses fancies getting involved, we’d love to hear from you.”

For more information visit www.actioncancer.org or call 028 9080 3344.

Main Photo Caption

Hilary Hanberry (BITC), Paula McAuley (All-Tex), Judges Gareth Kirk (Action Cancer) and Elaine Birchall (SHS Group) pictured ahead of the Cares Shops’ Challenge ‘Apprentice Style’ Boardroom Showdown due to take place on Friday 9^th October at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Belfast.