22/03/2010

Poll Booth Charity Innovation Revealed

There's more reason than ever to exercise the democratic franchise this year as a charity is to enjoy a boost when NI voters make their choice.

Anyone voting on polling day in the forthcoming General Election will not only have a chance to have their say on the formation of a new government but could also help thousands of local people living with cancer.

Douglas Bain, the Chief Electoral Officer has announced that voters visiting any of the

1,512 polling stations across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to make a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support, the Electoral Office's chosen charity for this year.

"On election day I expect that well over 700,000 people will visit a polling station and I very much hope that many of them will make a contribution to our selected charity.

"Every penny raised will help Macmillan Cancer Support carry out it vital work with all sections of the community," he said.

Lisa McGrogan, Area Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support commented: "We at Macmillan Cancer Support are delighted to have been chosen by the staff of the Electoral Office as their charity partner this year.

"This is a new initiative for both parties involved and we hope all the people of Northern Ireland will get behind it. One in three of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. Working together we can all make a difference," she said.

Collection boxes will be discretely place in polling stations for anyone who wishes to make a donation. The amount collected in each constituency will be published after the election.

(BMcC/GK)

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