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SuperValu Crossmaglen is hosting the Action Cancer Big Bus In Crossmaglen 20th September 2007
The Musgrave Group is based in Cork and the company is well established in Southern Ireland. Musgrave SuperValu entered the retail market in Northern Ireland in 1996. The company’s approach with its retailers is to be involved in sport and any healthy activities that can assist the development of our young people and our communities. In keeping with this healthy approach to life it was felt that the group’s combined effort along with others could play a role in helping local charity Action Cancer provide a mobile unit for the detection and prevention of cancer.
Action Cancer had an existing mobile service which was launched in 1978. As the service grew more popular and Musgrave SuperValu came on board it was felt that the service needed to be expanded. Thus the Big Bus was launched by Gloria Hunniford on 25 Sept 2006 at Hillsborough Castle. SuperValu retailers, staff and customers helped raise £250,000 to put the Big Bus on the road. The last vehicle in the old mobile service was retired in June 2006.
There are 36 SuperValu’s in Northern Ireland which raise funds to keep the big wheels turning on this free service. When you support any SuperValu in Northern Ireland you are supporting your own Big Bus.
The minimum number of staff working on the Big Bus is 5 at any one time.The Big Bus is costing £1.5million over the first three years of operation – including capital costs and running costs. In the first 6 months 2,000 people used the service, including 1,100 women who were screened for breast cancer using hi-tech digital screening equipment. 4 new breast cancers are being detected per month. More than 500 men have used health promotion services.
This hi-tech digital screening equipment simply means that the information is transferred directly to head office in Belfast via satellite where highly qualified cancer specialists can view the screens instantly. This is the latest technology available.
Each of the SuperValu stores along with the Musgraves group work together to make funds available for the upkeep and maintenance of the bus to keep this service going. The awareness that this bus has created has helped in decreasing the development of cancer by making people more aware of how important early detection is. The stores work together along with Action Cancer to try and place the Big Bus in each store’s area at least three times per year. The bus has already visited Silverbridge community centre this year.
It will visit SuperValu Crossmaglen on its first anniversary, 20th of September, and we hope to have it back again in the area before Christmas.
CUSTOMER INFORMATION
A. Services provided
Services provided on the Big Bus include digital breast screening for women aged between 40 and 49 and over 65, health promotion and men’s health checks. A support scheme called the Listening Ear Service and complementary therapies are offered to cancer patients, their carers and families onboard the unit, which is fully accessible for people with disabilities by means of a wheelchair lift.
B. Making an appointment
Anyone interested in making an appointment for the Big Bus when it is in Super Valu Crossmaglen should telephone Action Cancer in advance on 028 9080 3344. Appointments will be available from 10am to 3.30pm on the day. Bookings are taken on a first come first served basis as there are a limited number of appointments for all services. A small number of walk-on appointments will also be available.
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