To mark International Women’s Day 2025, leading Northern Ireland cancer charity Action Cancer has announced the release of 100 additional breast screening appointments, encouraging women to book their screenings online. This initiative is supported by a longstanding partnership with its4women, which has now reached an incredible milestone of £300,000 in fundraising contributions.

Accelerating Action for Women’s Health

The theme for International Women’s Day on Saturday, 8th March 2025, is ‘Accelerate Action.’ In alignment with this, Action Cancer will host a special breast screening clinic at its headquarters in Belfast, offering 25 additional appointments on the day. International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that advocating for women’s health and well-being is a year-round effort, not just a single-day event.

Modern women juggle multiple responsibilities, from career demands to family care and household management, often placing their personal health at the bottom of their priority list. Action Cancer is urging women to take a moment for themselves and prioritise their well-being by booking a free breast screening appointment. A five-minute commitment could make all the difference in early detection and potentially save lives.

Supporting Breast Screening Through Fundraising

While the breast screening service is free for users, each appointment costs Action Cancer £120 to provide. Without regular government funding, the charity relies on fundraising initiatives such as the Breast Friends campaign, which encourages community-led events to generate donations. Its4women has been a proud partner of this campaign since 2019, matching the public’s contributions, resulting in an impressive £300,000 raised to date. This funding has directly supported 2,725 potentially life-saving mammograms.

The Breast Friends campaign invites individuals and groups to organise fundraising activities, such as coffee mornings, pamper days, or spring garden parties. These events can take place anywhere, whether at home, in local salons, gyms, or community spaces, on International Women’s Day or throughout the month of March.

Expanding Access to Life-Saving Screenings

Action Cancer provides 8,000 breast screening appointments annually to women aged 40-49 and over 70—demographics outside the NHS screening range of 50-70. Screenings are available at Action Cancer House in Belfast and on the Big Bus, a mobile screening unit, which visits over 200 locations across Northern Ireland each year. Statistically, for every 1,000 screenings, six breast cancers are detected.

Recently, Action Cancer upgraded its mammography technology, replacing its existing units with the latest Siemens B.Brilliant Mammography systems. These state-of-the-art units, now operational at Action Cancer House and on the Big Bus, are the first of their kind installed on the island of Ireland.

The Ongoing Need for Support

Donna Kelly, Head of the X-ray department at Action Cancer, highlighted the importance of ongoing community support. “We are incredibly proud to be the first in Ireland to install these advanced mammography units, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of breast cancer detection. Now that we have these new machines in place, continued fundraising is crucial to help us cover the running costs and sustain our life-saving breast screening services.”

The Impact of the Partnership

Since the partnership between its4women and Action Cancer began in 2019, match funding has significantly bolstered the Breast Friends campaign. Anna from its4women expressed pride in the initiative’s success, stating:

“With financial matching from its4women, the Breast Friends campaign has raised a phenomenal £300,000, enabling 2,725 women to receive free breast screenings. Given that Action Cancer detects six cancers per 1,000 screenings, this funding has likely contributed to the early detection of at least 16 cancers. Additionally, thousands of women have received reassurance from their clear results.

“We encourage everyone to support this vital cause by hosting a fundraising event for International Women’s Day. With the Breast Friends campaign, every donation is matched, making contributions even more impactful.”

Community Support in Action

One shining example of community-driven fundraising is Ann Brown, a long-time Action Cancer supporter. Alongside family and friends, Ann has organised an annual coffee morning in Portstewart Guide Hall since 2007, raising funds for breast cancer awareness. In October 2024 alone, the event generated an incredible £3,260, which was doubled by its4women’s match funding. Looking ahead, Ann and her team aim to surpass a cumulative total of £50,000 by 2025.

Ann emphasised the importance of supporting this campaign, stating, “Breast screening is essential, and most of us know someone who has been affected by breast cancer. I encourage women of all ages to get involved in fundraising and to remind friends and family, particularly those aged 40-49 and over 70, to book their screening. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in the fight against breast cancer.”

Booking an Appointment

Women across Northern Ireland, aged 40-49 and over 70 can book their free breast screening appointment online at www.actioncancer.org or by calling 028 9080 3344.

To receive a Breast Friends fundraising pack, contact Lisa McClenaghan at 028 9080 3361 or email breastfriends@actioncancer.org.