69 Centra stores in Cork helped raise over €400,000 for the Irish Cancer Society’s Action Breast Cancer.

This is Centra’s fourth year supporting the campaign having raised over €1.4 million for the charity to date. All funds raised go to provide information, advice and support services for women with breast cancer in Ireland.

All Centra stores in Cork joined forces with Centra stores nationwide in October 2013 and generated the much needed funds through a dynamic fundraising campaign. Collectively, Centra stores across the country sold 40,000 limited edition ‘bag for life’, with all proceeds going to Irish Cancer Society’s Action Breast Cancer.

Instore collection units and Centra own brand pink products such as pink milk, pink flowers and pink fruit and veg also helped to contribute to the overall figure.

Further to this, Centra’s Pink Walks touched every part of the country with almost 200 Centra stores nationwide hosting their own local walk. The pink walks, along with the ‘Get the Girls’ initiative and a host of other Centra retailer driven activities contributed over €300,000 to the overall campaign. Through these fundraising events, Cork raised €73,600 for the charity and 32 Centra stores held a local community walk.

Speaking about this fantastic achievement Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, Centra said, “We are delighted that our Action Breast Cancer fundraising campaign proved so successful this year, raising over €400,000 for this worthy cause. Centra retailers throughout the country provided unprecedented support by encouraging customers in their local communities to think pink and lend a much needed helping hand to such a deserving cause.”

Commenting on the funds announcement John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said “The support has been wonderful for so many reasons. Not only in terms of raising vital funds but also increasing the level of breast awareness and getting people more active which is a key way to reduce your risk of cancer. We are astounded by the money raised which will help us work towards better support women with breast cancer, as well as funding invaluable research in this area.”

The funds generated through Centra’s 2013 campaign have helped the Irish Cancer Society to maintain the vital services it provides to breast cancer patients. In 2013, the Society distributed over 174,785 cancer information booklets and factsheets to people concerned about cancer across the country. The vital service of night nurses was upheld with 1,868 patients utilizing the service, providing 7,770 nights of care.

Further to this, the Irish Cancer Society’s ‘Care to Drive’ initiative brought 687 cancer patients on 12,160 hospital journeys and thousands of patients availed of the support offered to them through funded counselling and the National Cancer Helpline.

The Irish Cancer Society’s Action Breast Cancer is Ireland’s leading provider of breast cancer information and support, reaching over 25,000 women who are concerned about breast cancer and breast health every year. The Society strives to ensure that everyone affected by breast cancer has the support they need, when they need it.

Anyone concerned about breast cancer or breast health should call the Irish Cancer Society’s National Cancer Helpline on Freefone 1800 200 700.

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