Mayor honours cancer research volunteers

Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Councillor Thomas Beckett, hosted the event in recognition of the volunteers’ long-term commitment to raising funds for Cancer Research UK in the Lisburn area.

Among members of the CRUK Lisburn Local Committee present at the reception were Rosalind Boomer and Joyce Moran, lead volunteers of a house-to-house collection held annually since the committee’s launch in 1958.

In the 50 years since she started helping with the collection, Rosalind has collected £80,000, while Joyce and her helpers raised £25,000 over the course of 19 years.

Other volunteers who helped with the collection every year, including family members and friends, joined in the recent celebrations/

Cancer Research UK’s Lisburn area Local Fundraising Manager Mark McMahon said: “This is a very important occasion for us and I’m delighted to be here today to say a big ‘thank-you’ from everyone at Cancer Research UK to Rosalind, Joyce and the rest mof our fantastic volunteers in Lisburn.

“Going from door to door, year after year, to raise funds is very hard work but their incredible commitment to raising funds for cancer research is an inspiration. “I would also like to thank the community in Lisburn for their ongoing support of the life-saving work of Cancer Research UK.”

“The only way we are going to be beat cancer is through research. One in two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime but, thanks to research, survival rates are increasing.

“In fact, in the time the house-to-house has been going, overall survival rates from cancer have doubled: survival rates for children with cancer have tripled and twice as many women are surviving breast cancer today as they did in the early 1970s.

“Cancer Research UK scientists, doctors and nurses who have helped us make this progress could not have done so without the amazing contribution from volunteers such as Rosalind, Joyce and the rest of the Lisburn fundraising group.”

He added: “If you are interested in helping to beat cancer sooner in the Lisburn area, the local committee are always very welcoming to new volunteers and supporters.

“This could involve joining the committee to help organise events such as the annual Big Breakfast or at local collections. You might also like to support the group by organising your own event or simply make a donation through the group.

“To find out more, contact Janet Stirling, Committee Secretary, on 078 1809 5191.”