Progressive Building Society, Northern Ireland’s largest locally-owned financial institution, has announced a new partnership with Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children (NICFC) with the aim of raising £50,000 by the end of the year. 

The funds raised will be used to support Daisy Lodge, the charity’s new state-of-the-art family facility near Newcastle in Co Down. NICFC was chosen as the official partner of the building society following nominations from Progressive staff. 

The partnership, which kicks off with an initial donation of £12,500 from Progressive, will see the organisations join forces to raise money and awareness for NICFC, with Progressive staff taking part in a number of fundraising programmes over the next 12 months.

Darina Armstrong, Chief Executive of Progressive Building Society, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with an organisation that makes a significant difference to the lives of children, teenagers and young adults living with cancer.

“At Progressive, we are actively involved in all the communities we serve and our staff are committed to and looking forward to supporting our charity partnership with Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. It’s also very fitting that the inaugural Charity of the Year programme launches in our centenary year.”

Gillian Creevy, Chief Executive of NICFC added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been selected as Progressive Building Society’s first ever official charity partner. This high-level commitment to our work means a great deal to us and the families we support across Northern Ireland whose lives have been devastated by a childhood cancer diagnosis.

“2014 is such a special year for NI Cancer Fund for Children as we prepare to welcome families to Daisy Lodge, our brand new therapeutic centre in the Mournes. A stay at Daisy Lodge will allow families, exhausted by the demands of hospital, clinic and treatment regimes, to simply be together again and to benefit from the unique, holistic support provided by our team of Specialists. This is a momentous time for us in the charity, and we are thrilled to be sharing the experience with the wonderfully energetic and caring team at Progressive.”

Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children offers practical and emotional support to children, teenagers and young adults aged 0-24 living with cancer as well as their parents, guardians and siblings. The charity also offers support to children and young people whose parent or guardian has cancer.

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For further information please contact Shane Finnegan or John Megaughin at Aiken PR on 02890663000 / john@aikenpr.com