Friends of the Cancer Centre’s Fermanagh Fundraising Group is celebrating an incredible milestone, after raising £1 million to support families impacted by cancer across Northern Ireland.
The £1 million raised, which is the largest sum raised for Friends of the Cancer Centre by a single group, is the result of many years of hard work which began over 32 years ago, when Jim Gamble and Avril Graham started raising much needed funds for the charity. Then, in 2014, Jim and Avril helped form the Fermanagh Fundraising Group by engaging more volunteers to get involved. Over the last ten years, the group has gone from strength to strength with volunteers working tirelessly to raise both money and awareness of the charity. The local community have also played a vital role in reaching the milestone, with hundreds of people making donations, taking part in events, holding their own events, as well as local businesses going the extra mile to raise money. Most importantly, the dedication of the group has ensured that Friends of the Cancer Centre has been able to support families when they need it most, with the £1 million raised enough to fund a staggering 40,000 hours of nursing care from the charity’s team of specialist nurses.
Commenting on the achievement, Geraldine Corrigan, Chair of Friends of the Cancer Centre’s Fermanagh Fundraising Group, said:
“I am absolutely delighted that we have reached our fundraising target of £1 million. This fantastic amount of money was raised as a result of the hard work and commitment of our fabulous volunteers who continue to give so willingly of their time, and would not have been possible without the unfailing support of our local community in Fermanagh whose generosity never ceases to amaze us. We thank all who have donated in so many ways over the years and hope you will continue to support this worthy cause.
“Our group is made up of people from all walks of life and from across the community. We respect each other and have shared many memorable moments fundraising. They are dedicated and committed to Friends of the Cancer Centre and it is a privilege to chair such a wonderful team. We remember our dearly departed friend Jim Gamble BEM, who was dedicated to the charity for almost four decades alongside Avril Graham BEM, whose devotion and commitment to Friends of the Cancer Centre remains steadfast. I know that Jim would have been absolutely over the moon had he lived to see us reach this great milestone. I have no doubt that he continues to shine on us from heaven and I can hear him utter his famous phrase, ‘Isn’t it mighty!’”
The money raised by the group has been instrumental to the work of Friends of the Cancer Centre, which is dedicated to making a real and meaningful difference to cancer patients and their families right here in Fermanagh and across Northern Ireland. The charity is here to enhance the quality of patient care and support through its life-changing and life-saving work across cancer services locally, including the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre in Belfast and the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital. This includes funding additional nurses, supporting local research and providing practical support, such as financial grants, which help families through a difficult time.
Recognising the wonderful support the charity receives from across Fermanagh, Chief Executive of Friends of the Cancer Centre, Ana Wilkinson, told us:
“On behalf of everyone at Friends of the Cancer Centre, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Fermanagh Fundraising Group for their unwavering commitment to the charity and the people we support.
“Friends of the Cancer Centre has a long and proud connection to the incredible people of Fermanagh and we are delighted to celebrate with them as they reach this incredible £1 million milestone. The money raised by the group over the years has made a real difference to people in their own community. It has helped us provide financial grants, which can help cover some of the transport costs when someone needs to travel from Fermanagh to hospital for treatment, plus much, much more.
“As a charity we are powered by the generosity of the community and Fermanagh is a shining example of how people can come together to make a difference.”
The group is not done yet and they will continue to raise funds and awareness across Fermanagh. If you would like to help them reach their next milestone, they would love to hear from you. Email [email protected] for more information.
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Friends of the Cancer Centre is a registered company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland. Company number NI616925. Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC101345.