Take a walk in the woods for a model cause

Step up to the challenge and step out for charity is the call from Friends of the Cancer Centre this year as the charity launches its annual Belvoir Forest & Lagan Valley Walk which takes place in Belfast on Saturday 2 June 2012. The public are called upon to bring their ‘Friends’, family…and even dogs…along to join in and help raise funds to support Northern Ireland’s regional centre of excellence in cancer care.

A team of volunteers are already on board to help man the event – which also includes a free picnic lunch for all participants - and this year it looks like it will be a particularly glamorous affair!

This year Ann Connor from Corrs Corner was keen to get behind this ‘Friends’ project in memory of her late husband Harry, an ex-Sunderland football player, who passed away from non hodgkin’s lymphoma in November 2009, at the young age of 55. She runs the Northern Ireland School of Modelling and offered the support of the models she has trained to ‘step out’ in the name of Friends of the Cancer Centre; an offer which was, of course, snapped up in a shot.

Ann says, “The Belvoir Forest & Lagan Valley Walk is a leisurely 10 mile walk and a very enjoyable event for all ages, particularly given the beautiful setting of the Park, which makes it an ideal family day out. I’d encourage everyone to sign up. It’s only a light summer’s stroll, so don’t worry about your fitness levels – my models could walk the whole route in their high heels, if they so desired!

“This event has been known to raise over £14,000 by its participants in just one day to help support cancer patients and their families, so I’m keen to do what I can to help raise the event’s profile and encourage new walkers to join the regulars so we can raise as much as possible.”

Ann adds; “Do please register to take part the Walk in advance, as it will greatly aid us in providing sufficient food for the lunch which is part of this family day out. Registration commences at 9.30am, and the Walk will start at 11am from the Forest’s main car park.”

Colleen Shaw, Director of Friends of the Cancer Centre, says, “We hope some of our strollers will each set themselves a target of raising £50 or more. All the money raised will support projects that make a real and meaningful difference to local cancer patients and their families, funding patient comforts and research and buying important equipment.

“We are deeply indebted to Ann for offering us her assistance and that of her models to not only promote the event but to also help us out on the day.

“Ann has set herself a personal goal of raising £50,000 for Friends of the Cancer Centre within the next year. She is also offering a team of fully trained models free of charge to any people or groups who would like to put on a fashion show to raise funds for ‘Friends’. Simply call us on 028 9069 9393 for more details.

“Thanks must also go to the Forest Service and Lagan Valley Regional Park for their cooperation in annually allowing us to host this event to raise funds to help support cancer patients and their families across Northern Ireland.”

It is free to sign up for the Belvoir Forest and Lagan Valley Walk but advance registration is required to help the charity know numbers to be able to provide lunch for everyone.

Download a form from www.friendsofthecacnercentre.com or contact Kelly on 028 9069 9393 or by email [email protected]. Everyone who registers will receive a sponsorship form to help you get started raising funds for Northern Ireland’s Cancer Centre.