A LOCAL cancer charity branch raised more money last year than any other region in Northern Ireland.
Moneyreagh and District Action Cancer Community Group last week presented the charity with a cheque for £25,000, the latest in a long run of huge donations made by the local group.
The Moneyreagh group was formed in 1978, and is one of the longest running groups along with Markethill and Whiteabbey.
Valerie Heron, Group Treasurer said the last 12 months have been an extremely busy period for the group.
“We have had an exceptional number of fundraising events taking place including our fashion show at the La Mon Hotel, a night at the races at Gourley’s Bar, the October Pink Ballot and the sheep sale at Saintfield Mart.
“As a result we are absolutely thrilled to have been able to raise this amount of money for Action Cancer.”
Valerie said the group is ‘most indebted to all of the local shops and businesses and their customers’ who continue to donate through their Action Cancer collection boxes.
“We are also indebted to individual supporters who have donated throughout the year which all counts towards our fantastic total,” she said.
“The group has been going for 46 years with three founding members, Sadie Strain, Lily Weir and Elsie Strain still active members of the group.
“We will continue to do whatever fundraising we can to enable Action Cancer to help save lives and support people affected by a cancer diagnosis.”
