Ballyclare's Action Cancer charity shop on The Square will receive a designer makeover on Thursday 18 September, giving keen fashionistas the opportunity to grab a pre-loved or brand new designer bargain in this one day designer shop takeover, which includes a 'one-off' painting by the acclaimed artist Trevor J Brown and an extra special tea party in the pop up coffee shop next door!
As part of Business in the Community’s (BITC) Apprentice-style Cares Shops’ Challenge, 12 teams will be taking over Action Cancer shops across the province, and the team from firmus energy has been busy gathering new designer stock for their shop as well as fundraising and highlighting their activities in preparation for the Ballyclare shop takeover. This is the second year that firmus energy has been involved with this initiative with last year’s participants collectively raising a fantastic £65,400 for Action Cancer.
Angeline Murphy, CSR team member from firmus energy, explains: “We are really looking forward to taking over Action Cancer in Ballyclare. This is a great opportunity for us to join forces with the charity and give something back to a very worthwhile cause. There will be lots of bargains as well as a real buzz in the shop during our take over on 18 September and we’re committed to raising as much money as possible for this fantastic charity through this fun competition. When we took over the Coleraine shop last year, the day’s revenue increased by 1338% and we even helped to recruit two new volunteers for the shop. We are hoping that the people of Ballyclare are even more enthusiastic with their support! This year we have an extra special treat with a bespoke painting by the talented NI Artist, Trevor J Brown up for grabs! We anticipate this one off piece will fetch up to £1000.”
Cormac McCloskey, Trevor J Brown’s manager commented: “ When firmus energy approached Trevor to get involved, it was a novel idea of selling designer clothes in a charity shop setting; he found the combination not only ironic but also interesting, he has produced “Poodle Doodle” in this same spirit and we hope Action Cancer benefits from this small but apt contribution”. Trevor is no stranger to giving back to the community. In fact, a few years ago Trevor was approached by the cancer centre of excellence at The City Hospital in Belfast to produce a painting for their children’s waiting area. Trevor produced two such paintings and have since been held within a public collection can be viewed on-line through the BBC and Public Catalogue Foundations “Your Paintings” website. You can view these paintings on the bbc site “
Event organiser, Hilary Hanberry, who is volunteering manager for Business in the Community, commented: “We hope that people will come out in force to the Action Cancer charity shop in Ballyclare to support firmus energy in its efforts to raise the most money.”
Peter Lynch, Action Cancer Shops Manager said: “Every pound raised makes a real difference to people across Northern Ireland. The funds raised through our shops go directly to supporting someone’s grandparent through their treatment, someone’s mother, daughter or aunt who is facing breast cancer, a dad who has just learned that he has prostate cancer, to name just a few. The money raised during this challenge could be used to help your family member or friend or the person you walk past in the street. Cancer is everywhere and it’s everyone’s responsibility to help reduce the risk, promote early detection or encourage friends to use our services. A big thank you to everyone involved.”
Angeline adds: “We really hope as many people from the local community can make it down to the Ballyclare’s Action Cancer shop at any time between 9am and 4pm on Thursday 18 September to show their support for this great charity. They won’t be disappointed with the bargains on offer!”
“Our involvement further strengthens firmus energy’s links with BITC with whom we have volunteered on other occasions for initiatives such as ‘Time to Read’ when our employees went into primary schools to help children improve their literacy skills. We also recently had a team participate in the Belfast Marathon on behalf of CLIC Sargent‘s Home from Home initiative for Belfast City Hospital. firmus teams also undertake our own CSR projects and recently landscaped gardens at Riverside Special School in Antrim, Ceara Special School in Lurgan and Happitots Playgroup in Cullybackey.
