Warmflow takes on the tower for friends of the cancer centre

People from across Northern Ireland are being asked to become a superhero and Take on the Tower abseil down one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic and tallest buildings to raise money for local charity Friends of the Cancer Centre on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April 2018.

This year, local engineering company Warmflow have extended their support to the charity by sponsoring the event, meaning that even more of the money raised can be used to support local families affected by cancer.

Friends of the Cancer Centre, based at the heart of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, is one of the leading cancer charities in Northern Ireland working to support cancer patients and their families through key projects in the areas of clinical care, patient comforts, and research. Friends of the Cancer Centre is currently funding 31 additional staff in the Cancer Centre, including doctors, nurses and researchers and the charity is committed to raising at least £5 million over the next three years to fund on-going and new projects which will continue to support local cancer patients.

Claire Hogarth, fundraising manager at Friends of the Cancer Centre said:

“As the centre for excellence for cancer treatment in Northern Ireland, The Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital is the base for treatment for thousands of people from across Northern Ireland every week. The striking yellow tower block of Belfast City Hospital sits right beside the Cancer Centre and is one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic buildings, so it is the perfect location for this event in terms of raising money and awareness.

“This will be our 4th abseil and we are delighted to have Warmflow on board as our event partner. This year we wanted to add a little twist to the event and that is why we are calling on supporters from across the province to grab their cape and become a superhero to take on the tower for us. Not all superheroes wear capes, so do not worry if dressing up is not your thing, you are still a superhero to local cancer patients and their families. Places for the abseil are filling up fast, so I’d call on the people from across Northern Ireland to make sure they don’t miss out on this great event and sign up to Take on the Tower today.”

Registration for the event is £20 per person and each participant is asked to raise a suggested minimum sponsorship of £150 for the charity. Participants must be over 14 years of age or over. If you would like to Take on the Tower you can register online at www.friendsofthecancercentre.com or call 028 9069 9393 to find out more.

For further information please contact Nuala Bannon, Communications Manager at Friends of the Cancer Centre on 028 9069 9393 or email nuala.bannon@belfasttrust.hscni.net

About the abseil

• The abseil will take place on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April
• Registration for the event is £20 per person and participants are asked to raise a suggested minimum sponsorship of £150 for the charity
• The abseil will cover 190ft starting at the top of the tower block and ending on the dining floor level of the hospital
• The abseil will take place on the Lisburn Road side of the building, down a solid wall with no windows, therefore not affecting patients or staff in the hospital itself
• Participants must be over 14 years of age or over.

About Friends of the Cancer Centre

• Friends of the Cancer Centre is one of the leading local cancer charities in Northern Ireland
• The charity relies entirely on donations and the generosity of people across Northern Ireland
• Every year, Friends of the Cancer Centre uses the funds raised by its supporters to fund vital projects that have a real and lasting impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families.
• In the last year alone, Friends of the Cancer Centre has put £1.2 million into local cancer services in Northern Ireland
• The work of Friends of the Cancer Centre focuses on three key areas:

• Patient comforts: Friends of the Cancer Centre provides small, everyday comforts throughout the Cancer Centre, including newspapers, magazines, tea and coffee in patient day rooms and waiting areas; complementary therapy and relaxation classes for patients and carers; small grants which can provide a lifeline at an already stressful time as well as refurbishing patient day rooms which can provide a patient with space away from their hospital bed to spend time with family and friends.
• Patient care: Friends of the Cancer Centre funds 31 additional key staff within the Cancer Centre, including a number of doctors, Clinical Nurses Specialists, researchers and many more.

Friends of the Cancer Centre is Northern Ireland’s leading charity funding cancer research locally. It is a partner with the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, the Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Centre and over the next three years, it has pledged to continue its support of lifesaving research which will benefit patient’s right here in Northern Ireland.