Victoria helps put cancer strategy on political agenda

Scarva woman, Victoria Poole, Campaigns Ambassador for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) in Newry and Armagh, met local political representatives at Cancer Research UK's shop in Armagh to discuss the need for a new comprehensive cancer strategy for Northern Ireland.
Victoria Poole who was selected to be the  CRUK Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for Newry and Armagh constituencyVictoria Poole who was selected to be the  CRUK Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for Newry and Armagh constituency
Victoria Poole who was selected to be the CRUK Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for Newry and Armagh constituency

Cancer which is Northern Ireland’s biggest killer sees more than 25 people diagnosed with cancer each day – that’s more than 9,250 per year with rates projected to rise to over 14,000 by 2034.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland without a current cancer strategy with the most recent cancer strategy dating back to 2008.

In her voluntary role as Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for CRUK Victoria is working with the charity to secure commitment from the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to develop a comprehensive cancer strategy that outlines plans for the long term, set ambitious goals and identifies sufficient resources to ensure improved patient outcomes across Northern Ireland.

The 26-year-old Co. Armagh woman who was recently selected as a Campaigns Ambassador for Newry and Armagh constituency was inspired to apply for the role after losing her Grandmother to pancreatic cancer in 2014 and her Grandfather more recently to prostate cancer in 2017.

Victoria wanted to use her story to empower others and is now extremely passionate about campaigning to bring in new policies and secure investment in cancer services to help others tragically losing the people they love too, like her and her family did.

The Newry and Armagh Cancer Campaigns Ambassador commented on the work she will be carrying out in her new voluntary role and would encourage others to join the fight to help make a real difference in changing the cancer story across Northern Ireland;

“We need to make sure cancer remains a priority on the political agenda in Northern Ireland. Cancer Campaigns Ambassadors are volunteers who inform and influence their local politicians, and have made previous Governments listen and create real change.

Ambassadors are supported to contact their MLAs and MPs, make change in their constituency, and currently, to influence policy around the National Health Service (NHS), tobacco and obesity.

We work to roll out our political campaigns in our local communities across the United Kingdom – persuading decision-makers to bring in new laws and investment in cancer services that will ultimately save lives. Campaigns Ambassadors were integral in the UK-wide campaign for standardised packaging of tobacco products, a success achieved in 2015.

You don’t need to have experience in political campaigning. CRUK provide you with training materials (such as campaign ‘step by step’ toolkits) and support along the way.

All we ask is that you have the drive to make a difference and the desire to see change happen on a local and national scale in relation to cancer.

Campaigns Ambassadors play an important role in all of CRUK’s campaigns and make a real difference to beating cancer. Together we can all beat cancer sooner.”

If you are interested in becoming a Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador please visit - http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/our-ambassadors for more information.