(L-R) Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk is pictured with Action Cancer Ambassador Carol Withers and Action Cancer Complementary Therapist Alicia Ferguson.
Action Cancer is delighted to announce that following a grant application, it has received £100,000 from Walk the Walk, best known as organisers of the iconic MoonWalk London.
This funding will support Action Cancer’s Therapeutic Services which are on offer to people affected by cancer throughout Northern Ireland.
Action Cancer’s Therapeutic Services can help deal with the physical and emotional impacts of cancer, for example, pain, restrictions, fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety and fear. Action Cancer offers Counselling, Complementary Therapies, Life Coaching, Peer Mentoring, Scar Therapy and Yoga/Pilates to those in need.
The funding will also enable Action Cancer to proceed with the development of an Integrative Cancer Care Pathway model, including the development of relevant programmes and associated IT infrastructure aimed at establishing Action Cancer as the Northern Ireland Integrative Cancer Care Centre.
The grant provides additional time to identify and obtain other sources of funding to secure the sustainability of the services beyond 2025 while providing the charity with the opportunity to leverage match funding from alternative sources.
The funding also has the added benefit of enabling Action Cancer to retain highly skilled and qualified practitioners in their respective areas of expertise with a range of specialist cancer related qualifications.
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, said:
“I am delighted to share that Walk the Walk have awarded a grant to Action Cancer. This will fund 1,000 sessions of therapeutic support to around 215 people diagnosed with cancer.
"I know from my own experience how frightening and isolating a cancer diagnosis can be, so the service which Action Cancer provide to help support cancer patients through an incredibly difficult time, really is life-changing.
“Three years ago, we were thrilled to be the principal funder of Action Cancer’s new Big Bus, which does such vital work across Northern Ireland, providing health checks and breast screenings for women outside of the NHS screening range, 40-49 and over the age of 70. It is really exciting that by working together again, our charities are continuing to make such a huge difference.
“Grants, like this one to Action Cancer, are also amazing news for Walk the Walk’s wonderful fundraisers. I cannot thank these fantastic people enough! Sign up now at walkthewalk.org for our flagship overnight fundraising challenge The MoonWalk London on Saturday 18 May. It’s an incredible, fun-filled fiesta of a night, bringing many people together, putting one foot in front of the other and achieving a personal goal, whilst helping others. Come and see for yourself; it really is breath-taking!”
Carol Withers is a HR Manager from Larne. Carol lives with her husband and has two grown up boys aged 25 and 22. Carol, having accessed Complementary Therapy with Action Cancer, following a breast cancer diagnosis, shares her experience:
"I cannot speak highly enough about this service, as well as the invaluable support I received from my therapist, Alicia, throughout the past few months. Alicia is an exceptionally knowledgeable, compassionate, and remarkable individual.
"Amidst a challenging period in my life, the assistance from Action Cancer, and especially Alicia's support, greatly eased my journey. Her approach was incredibly personal and intuitive; it felt as though Alicia could effortlessly understand my emotions. I am grateful for everything. Thank you so much.”
Alicia Ferguson, Complementary Therapist at Action Cancer, added:
“We are thankful to Walk the Walk for providing us with this funding. Our Therapeutic Services are on offer from Action Cancer House in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland across 16 locations. Thanks to this funding we will be able to extend our reach to more people like Carol who are living with the impacts of cancer.”
To find out more about Action Cancer’s Therapeutic Services which are on offer to people affected by any type of cancer, please visit www.actioncancer.org or call 028 9080 3344.
The MoonWalk London - Get Involved
The 26th MoonWalk London takes place on Saturday 18th May 2024. The event starts and finishes at Clapham Common.
Walkers can sign up for either a Half Moon (15.1 miles) or a Full Moon (26.2 miles).
Thousands of women and men will be taking on an overnight walking challenge, wearing either a decorated bra or one of Walk the Walk’s brightly coloured “bra t-shirts”.
Call to action: For more information and to sign up now for The MoonWalk London 2024, go to www.walkthewalk.org