BY AUSTIN LYNCH
The Enniskillen Action Cancer group is celebrating this week raising a fantastic £60,000 in just three years of operation.
To mark this wonderful achievement from the local volunteers, the group met last week with the Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O'Reilly, at the Townhall in Enniskillen where they presented Kyla Stratton from the charity with a cheque for the money raised.
The Chairman of the Enniskillen Action Cancer Group, Gerry Corrigan said he was very proud of the group's achievements to date which, he added, is all the more impressive as the group is only going three years this May and has only a few members.
He explained: "When the group was established, there was up to 15 members but now there are only six. So, to be able to survive on our own, and to continue their excellent fund-raising for the leading local charity, the group need new members to come and join."
While he remained hopeful the group can remain independent, if, due to decreasing numbers, the group ever had to merge with another similar charity group, he could see the benefits of such a merger.
"One large group could do a lot more work and it could be beneficial to both groups in their work," he commented.
The Enniskillen Action Cancer group meet on the first Tuesday of every month in the Aisling Centre, Darling Street which provides them with a room 'free of charge'.
Each year, the group organise a number of fund-raising activities, including a street collection and a big event such as a barn dance. Last July, the group held a barn dance in Blaney which raised £10,000. The group doesn't have any expenses, so all the money raised goes straight to the charity.
"The great thing about Action Cancer", Gerry explained, " is all the money raised stays in Northern Ireland. The money raised by some other charities might first go to their headquarters in the UK before being distributed, but this doesn't happen with Action Cancer."
The Action Cancer Big Bus is one of the charity's successes, and much of the money raised by small groups such as Enniskillen will go towards helping to keep this life-saving facility 'on the road'.
Action Cancer provides a range of vital, life-saving services, including digital breast screening services (40-49 and 65+), men's MoT health checks, counselling, complementary therapy and health promotion.
Action Cancer relies heavily on donations from the general public and business to community in Northern Ireland to do its work.
The Enniskillen group are always looking to recruit new members and could welcome any new people along to their group. Each person makes their own contribution based on the time they can give, but each volunteer is valued equally.
To find out more, or to get involved contact Cathryn Gibson on 028 90803359 or e-mail 'cgibson@actioncancer.org'.
