About the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children
The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children is a registered Charity, which offers practical, emotional and financial support to children, and young people up to and including the age of 21, who are living with cancer, and their families.
Every week in Northern Ireland two more children are diagnosed with cancer or related illnesses and so two more families must try to cope with a level of devastation that is almost impossible for most of us to comprehend.
We work from our head office in Curlew Pavilion in the Belfast Harbour Estate but our services are extended to every part of Northern Ireland. We have four Youth Programme Co-ordinators, based in Belfast and in our Northwest office, who travel to meet children and young people for one-to-one meetings or group outings.
We have three youth groups, TACT (Teens Against Cancer Together) for those aged 12–17 years, KACTUS, (Kids Against Cancer – That’s Us) supporting children aged 8–11 years, and our 18+ group for young people in the 18-21 age range.
We have a fabulous 10 bedroom holiday home called Shimna Valley, nestling at the foot of the Mourne Mountains in Newcastle, where children and families can relax and spend time together in a tranquil setting. Often a holiday at Shimna Valley provides the first opportunity a family has had for many months to just simply be together as a family, away from hospitals, clinics and treatment regimes. We have also completed our 24 berth log cabin called Narnia, also situated in the Mournes and since our first residential weekend in January 2006, more than 850 young people have stayed there and enjoyed an opportunity for some independent living.
We also have Pine Cottage, a self-catering holiday home located on the River Bann between Coleraine and Ballymoney, which is available to those families requiring some privacy and peace and can be booked through our Belfast office.
Our two Family Co-ordinators provide professional support to families all over Northern Ireland, aiming to sustain family life and ensuring that all available practical support from the statutory, charitable and voluntary sectors is made available. A continuing programme of support is available for parents at weekend residential seminars and regular workshops held at Shimna Valley. Many important issues are raised and discussed with professionally qualified and experienced counsellors.
Direct financial assistance is available to parents via our ‘Road Miles’ and ‘Home Heating’Schemes.
And of course, in order to support our services, we undertake a constant and varied programme of fundraising. Many volunteers join NICFC Support Groups around Northern Ireland to raise much needed money and have some fun all at the same time. We are proud to say that all funds raised in Northern Ireland, stay in Northern Ireland to help children from all over the Province.
The NICFC is managed by a voluntary board of directors who meet every three months to develop strategy and guide the organisation.
Current board members:
- The Lady Moyra Campbell President
- Mrs Margaret McAlpine MBE Chairman
- Mr David Edwards Hon. Treasurer
- Ms Maureen Burns Hon. Secretary
- Mr Paul McCabe
- Mr Conor Wylie
- Mrs Betty Scott
- Mr Leonard Pugh OBE
- Mrs Paula Boylan
The executive team is led by General Manager Gillian Creevy