Tony set the pace in 300 mile 3 day challenge

Tony cycled a staggering 300 miles in only three days.  He started and finished his arduous cycling challenge in Coleraine, visiting 33 Northern Bank branches en route to bolster fundraising support from staff and customers.

 The money raised from this cycling challenge will be invested in sustaining and developing Cancer Focus’s Family Support Service - a free service which provides a vital lifeline to children and young people when a parent or grandparent is diagnosed with cancer.  

 Tony said, “This was a difficult challenge but with the help of my colleagues and our customers, I hope to raise lots of funds for the Family Support Service which helps so many families throughoutNorthern Ireland.”  

 Joyce Savage, Head of Appeals and Marketing, Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, said, “We are absolutely delighted that Northern Bank staff have come up with yet another fantastic fundraising initiative.  This is a wonderful way for everyone to get involved and we wish Tony all the best during this challenge.

“Thanks to the continuing support from Northern Bank we’ve been able to extend our Family Support Service.  We’ve employed another member of staff to ensure that families get the support they need immediately rather than joining a waiting list and attendance at the Family Support Group nights we recently set up in Craigavon is growing steadily. With 70,000 families inNorthern Irelandaffected by cancer we aim to ensure that our Family Support Service is widely accessible throughoutNorthern Ireland.”

Northern Bank branches supported Tony during his cycle challenge, helping to raise enough money to bring the fundraising total from January to June 2012 to over £100,000.  This will build upon the £150,000 already raised by Northern Bank staff and customers in 2011, in aid of Cancer Focus’s Family Support Service.

The Family Support Service provides practical and emotional support to the entire family unit which can involve individual or group support; home, hospital or hospice visits as well as telephone and email support.  The service also offers parental and pre-bereavement support, family support evenings and residential breaks for children to unwind and have fun with their peers who are in a similar situation.

 If you would like more information on the Family Support Service please call Cancer Focus on 028 9066 3281 email care@cancerfocusni.org or click on www.cancerfocusni.org