Western Trust staff reach landmark £30,000 total for breast cancer services

The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) Family and Childcare staff have over the past four years undertaken breast cancer awareness and fundraising events throughout the month of October to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Catherine McKevitt, on behalf of the Family and Childcare Heads of Service  Western Trust explained: “We commenced fundraising in 2021 when six of our colleagues were going through breast cancer treatment and we wanted to support them during this difficult period and also raise awareness of breast cancer.

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This year the Western Health and Social Care Trust Family and Childcare staff hosted a Gala Ball and raised a staggering £16,000, bringing their total fundraising to £30,000.

“As a predominantly female workforce breast cancer has touched many of us personally and hosting fundraising events has been very important to everyone involved.

“To date we have donated monies to the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital and Action Cancer 40 not 50 campaign to raise much needed awareness for the need for early detection.

Catherine continued: “We have run many events including yearly coffee mornings in each locality in Derry, Omagh and Enniskillen.

“We have also organised competitive team events including basketball / volley ball / cricket / netball / bootcamp challenges; zorb football and dance fitness. These have been fantastic fundraising events as well as developing friendships and connections with our teams.

“In addition, we have organised Big Breakfast / Night at the Races / Quiz Night. This year we decided to go bigger and better at the request of our staff and we organised a Breast Cancer Awareness Gala Ball which was held in Ebrington Hotel, Derry on November 7 2025.

“The response was fantastic; it was a sell out within one week of launching the tickets and we had a waiting list of those looking to attend such was the popularity. On the night we had 240 staff attended and it was an amazing night.

“The event required significant fundraising which all our staff contributed to in terms of table sponsors and donation of prizes on the night. We doubled our fundraising total this year and we raised a staggering £16,000 which brings our total fundraising to £30,000 – a remarkable achievement by our staff!

“On behalf of the Heads of Service, Catherine wanted to say a huge thank you to all of the staff who helped organise the night, sourced sponsors and raffle prizes and attended on the night.

“Thank you to the staff at Ebrington Hotel, local businesses and family and friends for supporting all our fundraising efforts – this money will help provide treatment, advice and support to women who are facing a breast cancer diagnosis in the future.”