Translink Raise 30K For Cancer Charity

Translink staff and customers have managed to raise £30,000 for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, in the first of a three year partnership.

The 'Travel to a Healthier Life' campaign focuses on encouraging people to put their best foot forward and adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle to help lower their risk of cancer.

Translink organised a host of fundraising activities during the year and has also planned a 'My Way 5K' runathon at Belfast City Hall on Monday 03 June, 7am – 7pm, to kick-start this year's Bus + Train Week celebrations. 

To mark Cancer Focus NI's 50th birthday and to round off the first year of the Translink partnership, the charity is asking everyone to sign up to do 50 laps for 50 years – a total of 5k.

Breast cancer survivor Emily Stanton, who has benefited from Cancer Focus NI's family support service, is calling on everyone to lace-up their trainers and join in.

The inspirational mum from Ballyhackamore is a runner herself - she even jogged all the way to Belfast City Hospital for her radiotherapy sessions while training for the Belfast marathon in 2016. 

Mrs Stanton commented: "Cancer Focus NI gave my husband Hedley and I the courage to talk openly about cancer with our children and they gave us practical and emotional support and guidance. I'm so appreciative of all the free help that they provided during this time.  

"Please sign up for the Translink challenge and raise funds to help others at one of the most difficult times of their lives," she urged.

Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway added: "A massive thank you to all our customers and colleagues who have been supporting our 'Travel to a Healthier Life' campaign. 

"From Pink Runs to Beard Shaves, a Big Shop Showdown to bus route spinathons, it's been a jam-packed partnership filled with creative collaborations to raise public awareness and support. 

"So it's great to reach this 1st year milestone with such a strong result that will motivate everyone at Translink to continue to do all we can to support Cancer Focus.

"Adopting a healthier and more active lifestyle is one good way to help combat the risk of cancer and using public transport is a simple way to introduce some regular exercise into your daily routine with a walk to your local bus stop or train station. 

"We're now looking forward to joining forces with our friends at Cancer Focus NI during Bus + Train Week this June especially at our 'My Way 5K' – everyone is welcome to come along to City Hall, take part or cheer on our participants!"

Rosie Forsythe, Corporate Manager at Cancer Focus NI, said: "It has been fantastic working with Translink and we're thrilled with the generosity of everyone who has helped us this year. The statistics tell us that one in two people in Northern Ireland will get cancer as people live longer. Translink has raised a huge amount of money which will play a vital role in helping us to continue our important work in the community.

"One of our Keeping Well vans was also rebranded recently with the Translink logo and the Travel to a Healthier Life strapline and is taking health checks, advice and information on the road to communities across Northern Ireland to help spread our message."

The charity is also providing regular health checks and information days for Translink employees and customers.

Click here to sign up for the My Way 5k run.



(JG/CM)