Portaferry Action Cancer shop raises an incredible £240k to help fight disease

Portaferry Action Cancer shop raises an incredible £240k to help fight disease

29 June 2022

PORTAFERRY’S Action Cancer shop has raised an incredible £224,050 since it opened 12 years ago.

Volunteers who work in the shop were visited recently by the charity’s chief executive, Garth Kirk, who thanked them for their outstanding effort. The volunteers raised an amazing £15,040 in the past 12 months alone.

The Action Cancer shop moved into its current location in the village square last July, but it has been part of the fabric of the town for 12 years.

Ellen Allen — who has been at the helm of the shop since it doors first opened — described it as a “mainstay” within the Portaferry community and has always been generously supported by local people.

“Without them and all of our visitors, we would never have been able to raise the amount of money that we have done over the years,” she said.

And Ellen said the volunteers are determined that within the next 12 months their fundraising total will reach, if not exceed, the £250,000 mark.

The charity’s chief executive said it is hard to believe that in the 12 years that the Action Cancer shop has been open in Portaferry, it would raise a phenomenal £224,000.

“This is completely as a result of Ellen Allen and her many years of dedication to the charity,” Garth insisted.

“Ellen is the face of the shop and because of her, the place is more than just a shop, it is a community hub for many local people.”

Garth added: “We couldn’t provide our support services without people like Ellen and all of the shop volunteers and we are extremely grateful for every minute they spend keeping the shop open and raising much needed funds for Action Cancer.”