News

Dungannon women Meta Graham and Ruth Archer are gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime this May when they will embark on a 60 mile trek through the Grand Canyon in the Arizona desert all in aid of Northern Ireland's leading local charity Action Cancer.

They have already surpassed their fundraising target of £6,000 and raised a massive £7,134 through a number of fundraising events including bag packing, karaoke nights and a dinner dance.

Leigh Chamberlain, Events and PR Officer for Action Cancer said: "Meta and Ruth have been fantastic supporters over the past few months. They have showed dedication and determination both in their fundraising and training. I would like to thank everyone in the local community who have helped them to reach and go beyond their target. With 40,000 people in Northern Ireland currently living with a cancer diagnosis, it is a disease that affects nearly everyone in the whole community in one way or anther.

"The people who have supported Meta and Ruth in their fundraising can take comfort in the fact that their donation will go toward funding local services as all the money raised by Action Cancer stays within the Northern Ireland community."

While both ladies are passionate about their reasons for doing the trek, Cancer is especially close to Ruth's heart as she had her own experience with cancer. Said Ruth: "Three months after having my daughter, at the age of 19, I had abnormal smear results. After further tests it was confirmed that I had cervical cancer and had a radical hysterectomy this was in Belfast City Hospital. I was very lucky I didn't need to get any further treatment at all. This is why completing the trek means so much to me, I think a girl should be screened from the age of 18."

The challenge will enable the two ladies to push their physical capability to new limits. It is the first time either of them have done this sort of thing. They are training by getting out for long walks and building up their stamina.

Action Cancer provide a range of life saving and support services for people living in Northern Ireland who have cancer as well as their families. Their breast screening service is available to women aged 40-49 and 70+ who fall outside the NHS age range. Each month, Action Cancer offers on average 1,100 breast screening appointments. They also offer health checks, health promotion, complementary therapy and counselling services. All these services are available from Action Cancer house in Belfast and regionally on their BIG BUS. All money raised by the charity is spent within the local community.

If you would like to participate in an overseas trek or to contribute to Meta and Ruth's trek fund please contact Leigh Chamberlain on 028 9080 3369 or email trek@actioncancer.org.

Source: Tyrone Courier
Date: Wednesday 10th March 2010