Charity partnership is the perfect fit

One of the world’s leading fashion brands has partnered with Friends of the Cancer Centre to raise vital funds to support local cancer patients.

Australian fashion brand Taking Shape has chosen Friends of the Cancer Centre as its charity of the year in Northern Ireland.  It has been 30 years since Taking Shape opened its first store in Australia to cater for ladies size 14 – 26 and it now has over 150 shops across the world.  Its stand-alone store in Castlecourt is the only one in Ireland, offering local women a fresh and personal shopping experience that allows them to look and feel amazing.    The team at Taking Shape are bringing the enthusiasm they have for fashion to their fundraising drive by holding an event in store every month during the partnership. 

Looking forward to the partnership, Rhona Killen, manager of Taking Shape in Belfast, said:

“Each year, every Taking Shape store selects a charity and when I was asked by my area manager to choose a local charity that we could support through our coffee mornings and fundraising events I knew immediately it had to be Friends of the Cancer Centre.

“My Husband, Kevin was treated in the Cancer Centre for five years after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Despite going through numerous chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, Kevin sadly passed away in July 2009.   Then my sister Donna was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in February 2014.  Thankfully after chemotherapy she is doing well and now only has to receive treatment every six months. 

“I am very appreciative of the work that Friends of the Cancer Centre does to support thousands of cancer patients across Northern Ireland.  From providing complementary therapies, relaxation classes, to purchasing medical equipment and funding patient comforts to improve their quality of life in hospital.   I am delighted to have this opportunity, along with my team at Taking Shape, to show Friends of the Cancer Centre our appreciation for the amazing work they do every day.”

Claire Hogarth, fundraising manager at Friends of the Cancer Centre, said:

“We’re delighted that Taking Shape as chosen Friends of the Cancer Centre as its charity partner of the year and we’re really looking forward to working with Rhona and her team on their fundraising activities. 

“The money we raise through this partnership will make a huge difference to the work that we do and it will have a lasting impact on thousands of local people affected by cancer.”

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