Make it your business to get behind Paint the Town Pink!

The group is aiming to make it bigger and pinker than ever, whilst raising vital funds for its unique breast screening service.

Paint the Town Pink was created by the Banbridge group in October 2015 as a fundraising campaign for Action Cancer, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Each year since, businesses in Banbridge have got involved by decorating their windows in pink, entering the Best Pink Window Display competition, hosting cake sales, coffee mornings and pink-themed fundraisers.

Chair of the group, Ann Jardine, said: “Since the inaugural event in 2015, Paint the Town Pink has continued to grow year on year.

“Paint the Town Pink has now become synonymous with Banbridge and it is an event that local businesses and local people continue to support and we are very thankful.

“This year we will be having a number of events in the town throughout October. If you would like to get involved in any way please get in touch and we will provide you with pink fundraising materials to help raise lots of funds!”

On Saturday, October 5, the Banbridge group will be joined by former Miss Northern Ireland, Anouska Black, at Bannside Presbyterian Church on the Castlewellan Road, to host its big coffee morning and craft fair, with 30 local and talented crafters.

If you have a motorbike and would like to be part of the big pink cavalcade, come along to the church car park where registration is from 10.30am and the ride-out will commence at 12 noon.

The town centre will also be buzzing with music in the streets, including Strings and Sings, Stephen Cairns, and No Strings Attached. Bounce Digital Radio will be broadcasting on the street.

Street Characters from CausePlay will be handing out balloons and will pose for photographs.

Mark Irwin-Watson, Community Groups Executive at Action Cancer, said: “Action Cancer is the only charity in Northern Ireland to provide screenings for women between the ages of 40-49 and 70+, age groups not included in the NHS screening programme.

“Early detection does save lives so we are very lucky to have this service right on our doorsteps.

“We would encourage all types of businesses and retailers in Banbridge to get involved as £120 raised will potentially save a life. Early detection does save lives so make it your business to raise some much-needed funds for Action Cancer and let’s Paint the Town Pink together this October!”

The Action Cancer’s Big Bus will be visiting The Boulevard for breast screening and MOT health checks on Friday, October 11 - pre-booking for this is essential.

The Boulevard, which has proudly supported Paint the Town Pink for the last seven years, will continue the pink party with its own Paint the Town Pink event running across the weekend of October 12 and 13.

There will also be music over the weekend at The Boulevard including DJ Greener, Lawrence T and the Wolfmen, DJ Oggie and Poyntzpass Silver Band. CausePlay will again be joining the pink party on the mall.

Stores at The Boulevard will be competing for the prestigious title of the Best Dressed Window 2024, stay tuned on The Boulevard’s Instagram stories where you can vote in the poll for your favourite window.

There will be a mega raffle for a luxury hamper full of goodies donated by stores within The Boulevard. A number of events will be held to entertain the younger shoppers including a ‘Letter Treasure Hunt’ and ‘Catch The Prize Duck’ taking place at the iconic water feature, where winners will receive a prize if they find the golden duck.

Every year Action Cancer helps to save and support 20,000 people across Northern Ireland through the delivery of its services including the provision of 8,000 breast screening appointments at Action Cancer House and on board the Big Bus (supported by SuperValu and Centra).

For every 1,000 women screened, an average of six breast cancers are detected – hopefully at an early and treatable stage.

All of Action Cancer’s services are free to the user, but the charity receives no regular government funding and exists mainly through public fundraising. Furthermore, all monies raised for the charity remains within Northern Ireland and is used to help people here who are affected by cancer.

As a result, fundraising by community groups such as Banbridge, through volunteering their time, are of vital importance to the charity.

The local Action Cancer group is made up of local people who volunteer to organise events and collections, and to raise the profile of the charity and its services.

If you feel you’d like to make a difference locally, then the Banbridge group would be delighted to hear from you.

Contact Mark Irwin-Watson on 028 90 803344 or email [email protected].